LOC13:28
10:28 GMT
KUWAIT, March 30 (KUNA) -- Thirty non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have pledged more than USD half billion to provide humanitarian aid for the Syrian people, inside the country and in neighboring nations, exceeding pledges made in their meeting in Kuwait last year.
The International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) announced that total pledges amounted to USD 506 million, a day ahead of the Third International Pledging Humanitarian Conference for Syria, surpassing USD 348 million pledges made at the second NGOs conference for the Syrian people held in Kuwait in January 2014.
It said that Kuwaiti NGOs and figures, already active on the ground to help the Syrians, pledged USD 88 million.
The Kuwaiti NGOs and figures were Kuwait Islamic Revival Society, Abdullah Al-Nouri Charitable society, Zakat House, Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Direct Aid society and the International Rahma society.
Patients Helping Fund Society, Kuwait Popular Committee, Awqad Public Endownment, Al-Najat Charitable Society, Kuwait Banks union and His Highness head of Kuwait National Guard Sheikh Salem Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah also announced pledges.
The IICO said GCC, Islamic countries and international pledges amounted to USD 418 million.
Countries hosting Syrian refugees also offered contributions to the refugees, like Turkey's Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) pledging USD 100 million, Jordan's Islamic Center Society pledging USD 10 million, and two Lebanese societies contributing USD 27 million, and Jordan's Gheraa soceity pledging USD five million.
Some 12.5 million Syrians have been displaced internally and across neighbouring countries - 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. (pickup previous)
kt.bs