Kuwait is an aid, diplomacy "superpower" - UN humanitarian chief

By Omar Al-Loughani KUWAIT, Oct 7 (KUNA) -- UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher described the State of Kuwait as a "superpower" in humanitarian work and diplomacy.
Praising its steadfast partnership with the United Nations and its firm commitment to humanitarian principles, Fletcher, in a lecture hosted Tuesday by Kuwait's Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah Diplomatic Institute titled "Humanitarian Action in a Shifting Global Landscape: Challenges, Opportunities and Kuwait's Leadership", said Kuwait's commitment to humanitarian principles and its longstanding record of generosity and wisdom continues to inspire the entire humanitarian community.
He stressed the importance of strengthening the existing partnership and finding ways to work more closely to keep humanitarian action principled, effective and more efficient in serving communities worldwide.
He underlined the UN's need to partner with Kuwait and build on its strength "as a humanitarian superpower and a leader in humanitarian and development assistance," expressing gratitude for the Foreign Ministry-led relationship that has helped save many lives around the globe over many years.
He also commended the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development for its generous support, reflecting Kuwait's commitment not only to emergency response, but also to long-term resilience and stability.
Fletcher also lauded cooperation with Kuwaiti NGOs and private sector, which reflects a whole-of-society approach to humanitarian work, noting that "Kuwait is among the world's largest per-capita humanitarian donors, making it a leader in this field," and highlighting the "great legacy" of the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as a humanitarian leader.
He further noted Kuwait's stance toward the situation in the Gaza Strip, saying "Kuwait was among the first to call for an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and has maintained this powerful call as the conflict intensified, remaining a key champion through its advocacy for the protection of civilians and unhindered humanitarian access." On global humanitarian action, Fletcher said the context has become more difficult, with a "perfect storm" of overlapping conflicts, crises and growing needs pushing the number of people in need to more than 300 million worldwide.
Last year (2024) "was the deadliest on record for humanitarian workers, with more than 300 killed," he noted, expressing fear that this year "could be deadlier." On the Humanitarian Reset, Fletcher said it rests on regrouping, reform and renewal, with a smaller sector ahead due to a severe funding gap, with only 21 percent of appeals funded this year.
He said reforms aim to enhance agility, efficiency and innovation, including leveraging technology and artificial intelligence to improve supply chains, while shifting power from central hierarchies to affected communities and defining life-saving priorities more clearly.
He noted the UN will aim next year to save 114 million lives at a cost equal to just one percent of global spending on arms and security.
For his part, Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) Director General Fawaz Al-Mazrouei told KUNA that Fletcher's remarks constitute a "renewed international endorsement that humanitarian action in Kuwait is not merely a state policy, but part of its national identity and deeply rooted values, making it a 'superpower in giving,' as the UN official described." Al-Mazrouei said the challenges Fletcher outlined; underfunding and the targeting of aid workers, mirror what KRCS teams face daily as they translate the lofty principles of international humanitarian law into tangible assistance for people in the toughest conditions, affirming that "Kuwait will always remain at the forefront of nations extending bridges of hope to those in need." He stressed that today's shifting global landscape indeed requires a humanitarian reset based on genuine partnerships between international organizations and on-the-ground actors such as KRCS, reiterating the Society's commitment to remain a strategic UN partner in addressing global crises and carrying forward Kuwait's humanitarian message established by the nation's wise leadership over generations.(end) oys