Kuwait has rushed to help Syrian people -- Min. Al-Sanea

By Abdullah Al-Marshad KUWAIT, March 18 (KUNA) -- Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Yaaqoub Al-Sanea said Kuwait has always been among countries that rushed to help the Syrian people since the conflict broke out in March 2011.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is the top supporter of the Syrian people, said Al-Sanea, citing the Kuwaiti leader's hosting of 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.
Speaking to KUNA, Al-Sanea said Kuwait's approval to host the third conference, due on March 31, was another example of His Highness the Amir's humanitarian endeavors which led to the UN honoring of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad as a Humanitarian Leader," and Kuwait as a "Humanitarian Center." Kuwait, said Al-Sanea, was keen on hosting the conference, also known as Kuwait III, because it believed in importance of bringing all humanitarian partners in one place to follow up the relief operations in Syria and neighboring countries.
Al-Sanea warned against the shortage of funding for those in need, which would have "catastrophic consequences" on the Syrians and region.
"We should seize this opportunity to boost the humanitarian response and honor the commitment that donor countries have and will pledge," he added.
"We should explore how to continue the humanitarian contributions, put new and effective mechanisms, support national plans of host countries and finance development projects in domains of health, education and production," said the minister.
The Syrian conflict, which entered its fifth year, has killed more than 220,000 people and forced displacement of some 12.5 millions of people.
"The world should unite to end this suffering (of the Syrian people) and stop the violence in Syria so security and peace prevail in Syria," said Al-Sanea. (end) amn.bs