Kuwaiti gov't ready to face any emergencies -- officials

KUWAIT, March 27 (KUNA) -- A number of government bodies have taken precautions in aspects of health, food availability, and security to ward off any emergency that might affect the country as the region is going through some difficult times.
In a statement to KUNA, Minister of Health Dr. Ali Al-Obaidi said his ministry was ready to deal with any emergency. Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry, likewise, said that the nation's strategic food reserves were at their optimum levels and that the ministries he headed were ensuring these levels in coordination with the private sector.
He said he had ordered that prices of commodities be watched carefully for any price-gouging that might be attempted at this delicate time in the region.
Early on today, designated National Guard Undersecretary Major General Hashem Al-Refaei, said they were on full alert and ready to address any emergencies.
The National Guard has taken all necessary steps to counter challenges that might arise to threaten Kuwait's security, Al-Refaei added in a statement, noting that they would fully cooperate with other security bodies for the common good of the nation.
On his part, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, heading a meeting with security officials yesterday, said that all government bodies should be prepared to provide total security and safety to all people in the country.
Kuwait had emphasized yesterday that its participation in operation Decisive Storm was based on its part in the GCC joint defense treaty and did not conflict with the constitution.
This participation comes in view of escalating events in Yemen caused by the continuation of Houthi militias to use violence to tear apart the legitimate government of Yemen and these militias' threats and violations vis-أ -vis Saudi Arabia.
National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim had also indicated in a press statement on Thursday that the Kuwaiti leadership informed him about the participation of the Kuwaiti air force in the military operations in Yemen at the request of Saudi Arabia.
He said the nature of the Kuwaiti participation was in accordance with the GCC joint defense treaty and did not conflict with the Kuwaiti constitution.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah said it was essential that peace and security would be restored to Yemen through adherence to UNSC resolutions, the Gulf Initiative, and the resumption of a national dialogue. (end) aas.ajs