Weekly roundup of Kuwait's regional, int'l humanitarian action

KUWAIT, Dec 2 (KUNA) -- Living up to its UN-bestowed status as an International Humanitarian Center, Kuwait continues providing humanitarian aid to some countries all over the world throughout the week.
Starting from Bangladesh, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) to provide USD-one-million relief aid to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
The memo was signed by KRCS Board Chairman Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer and KFAED Director-General Abdulwahab Al-Bader.
Speaking to KUNA after signing the deal, Al-Bader reiterated Kuwait's USD-15-million pledge to provide relief aid to Rohingya refugees.
Out of this figure, USD one million was offered by the KFAED to fulfill the urgent needs of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, he added.
Al-Sayer said the allocated sum includes USD 600,000 for food aid and USD 400,000 for medical supplies.
He estimated the number of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh at around 600,000, appreciating this first-of-its-kind cooperative MoU with the KFAED.
In Irbil, KRCS delivered humanitarian aid to those affected by the earthquake in Halabja and Sulaiymaniah in Iraq's Kurdistan region.
Since the earthquake that hit northern Iraq on November 12, the State of Kuwait has been closely monitoring the affected area and will continue to provide humanitarian aid to those in need, Kuwait's Consul General in Irbil Omar Al-Kandari told KUNA.
Kuwait began delivering aid to northern Iraq last week, distributing thousands of food and health care baskets, he added.
According to a statement by the Iraqi Red Crescent Society, the earthquake left eight dead and 425 others injured.
In Lebanon, KRCS announced Friday the launch of "warm winter" project to aid 1,000 Syrian refugee families in Lebanon.
The project is donated by Alghanim Industries Company in coordination with the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC), Dr. Musaed Al-Enezi, head of KRCS delegation in Lebanon, told KUNA.
So far, some 2,000 blankets have been distributed to 1,000 Syrian refugee families in eastern and northern Bekaa province in Lebanon to help them face the harsh winter in these areas, he added.
Meanwhile, Al-Eenzi mentioned that KRCS has signed a joint cooperation agreement with Qatar Red Crescent to launch a project of "empowering women".
The joint project aims to empower women to produce winter clothes for Syrian teachers and their families, in addition to children with special needs, to help them bear the frosty winter in Arsal area, northern Lebanon, he added.
Al-Eenzi also affirmed KRCS' keenness to continue backing Syrian refugees through its various projects in a number of Lebanese towns and cities such as water treatment plants, breast cancer treatment center, and dialysis center, in addition to the bread loaf project. (end) hm