The Saudi Red Crescent Authority assisted in a humanitarian operation that took several days, transferring about 257 detainees in connection with the armed conflict in Yemen on the 15th and 17th of April.  The transfer of detainees took place between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Red Crescent Authority played an important role in assisting detainees with medical staff and volunteers who helped detainees with disabilities embark and disembark planes and provided first aid and ambulance services as needed.

His Highness Prince Abdullah bin Faisal Al Saud, Director General of the International Cooperation Department of the Authority, clarified that "this mission is among the many humanitarian tasks of the Authority. We are honored by our contribution to this major national humanitarian event in cooperation with our partners at the International Committee of the Red Cross and with the support of all official bodies in the Kingdom.

This day culminates many efforts made at all levels to realize this humanitarian goal with generous support and wise guidance from the leadership of this benevolent nation.

Because of the importance of this major humanitarian event, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority dedicated all its human capabilities in terms of medical, legal, and logistical expertise to support the exchange process and assist the concerned parties in this mission from the official authorities or our strategic partner, the International Committee of the Red Cross, with field medical teams present in Riyadh and Abha and a legal team following up on this process. From a humanitarian perspective, these efforts culminated in success, thanks be to God.

We extend our gratitude to our colleagues in the International Committee for their great efforts in taking on the role of neutral mediator in this file based on the trust they have gained over the years.  This embodies the spirit of cooperation between the components of the movement for the sake of serving humanity".

The release of detainees emerged as a result of negotiations concluded on March 20, 2023, in the Swiss capital Bern, where the parties to the conflict agreed to a plan to release nearly 900 detainees. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a partner of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, participated in chairing these meetings with the Office of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Yemen.

Mr. "Mamadou Sou", head of the ICRC regional delegation to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, said: "We highly appreciate and admire the support we received from our brothers at the Saudi Red Crescent Authority during the ICRC operations to release hundreds of detainees and transfer them on these blessed days of Ramadan." He added, "We are proud to work side by side with the Saudi Red Crescent Authority and hope that our partnership will translate into further joint humanitarian work for the benefit of victims of armed conflict and violence."

On a global scale, the ICRC works with national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to ensure a coordinated, effective, and rapid response to conflicts and violence.  The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world's largest humanitarian network.