Minister hopes aid-pledging talks for Syria raise high pledges

KUWAIT, March 29 (KUNA) -- Minister of Information and State Minister for Youth Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah expressed hope that aid-pledging talks for Syrians displaced internally and abroad help raise the highest amount of pledges.
Speaking at a press conference at the opening of the accompanying media centre of the talks due in two days, the minister expressed pride at the huge number of visiting reporters. The centre has been provided with the largest amount of information and given all the necessary facilities, he said.
Kuwait hopes that it lives up to the task of its humanitarian obligation after being handed the UN Humanitarian Centre title for its humanitarian contributions worldwide, he added, particularly after the country hosted two aid-pledging conferences for Syria.
Among the activities of the press centre was a seminar, which included two speakers from the Kuwait Union of Cooperative Societies and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Reporters were also taken on field visits to several cultural establishments in the country like Kuwait House for National Works, Mubarakia Souq, Al-Shaheed (martyr's) Park and Salmiyah Theatre to watch the silent play, Hope.
Several photograph exhbitions are also being held at shopping malls across the country depicting Kuwaiti contributions to the Syrian conflict which has entered its fifth year.
Some 12.5 million Syrians have been displaced internally and across Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, Iraq and Egypt, due to the conflict in their country that began in March 2011.
Kuwait I and II in 2013 and 2014 raised collective international pledges from nations and NGOs worth a total USD 3.9 billion - USD 1.5 billion and USD 2.4 billion respectively.
Of these pledges, Kuwait donated a collective USD 800 million, including USD 300 million and USD 500 million. (end) kt.sd