By Tamer Abulainain
GENEVA, March 14 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's envoy at the UN here on Saturday briefed the Secretary General of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Elhadj As Sy, about schemes and preparations for the Third International Pledging Conference for Syria, due in Kuwait in end of this month.
Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghunaim, the State of Kuwait Permanent Delegate at the United Nations and other international organization in Geneva, said in a statement to KUNA that the chairman of the international federation had assured him about his keenness on taking part in this conference, for it will witness further relief programs for the war-stricken Syrian people.
The Kuwaiti delegate noted the historic ties and cooperation between Kuwait and the international federation. For his part, As Sy indicated that conferees at the major convention would examine "volume of the disaster, namely the heavy burden on neighboring countries." He was alluding to millions of Syrians who have fled to neighboring countries, namely Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Turkey, with no living resources, but aid.
Moreover, the chairman re-affirmed concern for aiding the refugees particularly the children in terms of health care and teaching.
As sy expressed deep gratitude to Kuwait for its contributions to humanitarian operations worldwide to aid people in need, without discrimination. Kuwait hosted the first and second aid pledging conferences for Syria in 2013 and 2014. The two conferences were successful and raised USD 3.9 billion in aid pledges, USD 1.5 billion in the first and USD 2.4 billion in the second. Kuwait donated at total of USD 800 million in the two conferences, USD 300 million in the first and USD 500 in the second.
The pledged money is used to help the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and other aid organizations respond to the massive humanitarian needs generated by the crisis in Syria.
The UN's humanitarian agencies provide life-saving food supplies, water, shelter, medicines, health services, and supporting livelihoods to the internally displaced Syrians and the refugees in the neighboring countries. (end) ta.rk