Riyadh: The road linking Taiz to several governorates serves as a vital lifeline for five million Yemenis. Its rehabilitation, led by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) in coordination with the World Bank, aims to improve efficiency, enhance safety, and ease travel hardships.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the project will contribute to safer vehicle movement, facilitate the transport of individuals and goods, including food and medical supplies, and reduce costs by shortening travel time. It will also create immediate job opportunities and support various economic, service, and educational sectors.

The rehabilitation of Hajjat Al-Abed Road aims to ease the daily hardships of travelers by addressing roadside collapses, improving rainwater drainage, and repairing the deteriorated asphalt layers along significant portions of the road. The road, spanning approximately 9 kilometers with a 1,000-meter elevation drop from its highest point to its end, lacks essential traffic safety features, such as concrete barriers for vehicle protection, and is prone to rockslides. Moreover, it requires the rehabilitation of existing drainage channels and the construction of new ones to prevent water from seeping into the pavement layers.

The SDRPY has implemented 264 projects and initiatives across eight key sectors: education, health, water, energy, transportation, agriculture and fisheries, government capacity building, and development programs, benefiting various Yemeni governorates.