By Tamer Abulainain
GENEVA, March 19 (KUNA) -- UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres hailed the third upcoming Kuwait-hosted international aid-pledging event for Syria due on March 31 as reflecting a generosity that is worthy of admiration.
After meeting Kuwait's permanent envoy to the UN Jamal Al-Ghunaim in Geneva, the UN official told KUNA that the event is the only opportunity where governments and relief organizations can be briefed in-depth on the developments of the situation in Syria.
Its importance lies in its attempt to shed light on the magnitude of the crisis, the tragic humanitarian situation the people of Syria are going through and the difficulties and challenges the international community should contribute towards solving, he said.
The conflict in Syria has entered its fifth year and has left an astonishing 12.2 million people displaced inside and outside of Syria. An earlier two events hosted by Kuwait, intended to raise funds aimed alleviating their suffering in 2013 and 2014, helped raise pledges worth USD 3.9 billion - USD 1.5 billion and USD 2.4 billion respectively.
Kuwait donated a collective USD 800 million over both, including USD 300 million in the first and USD 500 in the second.
Guterres hailed His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's support of humanitarian efforts across the world, particularly on Syria.
He also urged attending nations to seek bilateral or multi-lateral with neighbouring nations of Syria who are hosting the refugees on basic projects that serve the needs of the refugees.
These projects, he identified, would target sectors such as education, drinking water, electricity, transport, healthcare and food.
For his part, the Kuwaiti diplomat said he had discussed the conference's working plan, and Kuwait's preparations on the event.
This year alone, Kuwait has contributed USD 1 million to the UNHCR's activities, and this represents Kuwait's commitments as part of its stance on supporting efforts that ease the suffering and anguish of the internally displaced and refugees worldwide, he said. (end) ta.sd