Medina: The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) organized a workshop titled 'Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities' and participated in a session titled 'Practicing Housing at the Centre of Crisis Response' as part of the activities of the 13th World Urban Forum in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, in the presence of international officials and experts in development, reconstruction, and urban planning.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the workshop highlighted the importance of development as part of the path toward recovery and stability amid the continued urban and service-related needs of the population, despite ongoing challenges and crises. It was held within the framework of exchanging expertise and enhancing knowledge in the fields of sustainable urban development and capacity building.

During the workshop, SDRPY Assistant Supervisor General Eng. Hassan Al-Attas stressed that urban recovery and strengthening community resilience require working within interconnected systems in which different sectors complement one another to generate cumulative impact. He said: 'The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen's approach combines support for essential and vital sectors, enhancement of economic stability, institutional capacity building, as well as the promotion of recovery and sustainable development."

The workshop reviewed the program's development experience in the Republic of Yemen, which resulted in more than 287 development projects and initiatives across eight essential and vital sectors, forming an integrated model linking development and stability, in close cooperation with the Yemeni government.

He explained that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's experience through SDRPY represents a practical model in this developmental transformation, noting that since its establishment in 2018, the program has adopted an integrated approach that redefines the role of housing as part of a comprehensive development system aimed at enhancing cities' ability to restore their vital functions.