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UN commends Kuwait's philanthropic, diplomatic actions

UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock
UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock

By Nawaf Al-Deqbasi

DOHA, March 5 (KUNA) -- UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, Monday commended State of Kuwait's exceptional humanitarian and diplomatic actions, aimed at addressing crises around the world in particular the Syrian conflict.
Lowcock, who also heads the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), thanked Kuwait, which chaired the UN Security Council in February, for efforts that led to UNSC's unanimous adoption of resolution 2401 which established a 30-day truce in Syria to allow provision of humanitarian aid.
Lowcock, speaking to KUNA following a lecture he gave at Doha Studies Institute, said Kuwait's coordination among the UNSC members resulted in the unanimous adoption of the resolution late last month.
Asked about Iraq's reconstruction conference held in Kuwait last month, Lowcock said the February 12-14 meetings were a success and succeeded in securing USD 30 billion in loans, grants and investment projects.
In his lecture, Lowcock said the first humanitarian convoy entered Eastern Ghouta in Syria.
He said there were 13 million people in Syria in dire need of aid but the UN aid reached 1.7 million only.
People in Eastern Ghouta, which has been under siege for years, were starving, he said.
On Yemen, Lowcock said 32 million people were in need of humanitarian supplies, and there were four million others at the brink of famine.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) pledged to provide USD one billion this month for Yemen, he said, and this would enable the UN to provide food to millions of Yemenis. (end) nnd.bs