By Mashhoor Abu Eid
AMMAN, March 29 (KUNA) -- Head of the Jordanian Red Crescent Dr. Mohammad Al-Hadeed said Sunday Kuwait's hosting of the Third International Pledging Conference for the Syrian people reflected the Gulf state's global humanitarian role.
Kuwait will always remain a global humanitarian leader and His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has rightly deserved the UN's "Humanitarian Leader" title, Al-Hadeed told KUNA in a statement.
The UN selection of Kuwait to be a "Humanitarian Center" is an honor for every Arab citizen working in the humanitarian field, he added, and said Jordanian Red Crescent was proud of its partnership with Kuwait Red Crescent Society since the Syrian crisis broke out in March 2011.
"This partnership began when the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society answered our call and started offering aid for the Syrian refugees in Jordan," said Al-Hadeed.
He said there were 25,000 families benefitting from humanitarian assistance like food, health service, clothes for winter season and daily portions of bread for 7,500 Syrian families.
"Kuwait Red Crescent shared the big burden in helping the Syrian refugees in Jordan," he noted.
Al-Hadeed said he attended the second aid-pledging conference for the Syrian people in Kuwait in January 2014, and experienced the massive Kuwaiti support when the Gulf state contributed USD 500 million.
"The action and guidance of His Highness the Amir to alleviate suffering of victims and weak are just another example of his leadership," he said.
Some 12.5 million Syrians have been displaced internally and across neighbouring countries like Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, Iraq and Egypt, due to the conflict in their country that has entered a fifth year.
Kuwait hosted two events in 2013 and 2014 which raised pledges worth a total USD 3.9 billion - USD 1.5 billion and USD 2.4 billion respectively - from international donors aimed at alleviating their suffering.
At both, Kuwait donated a collective USD 800 million, including USD 300 million and USD 500 million. (end) ab.bs