Kuwait III to combine urgent, development assistance to Syrians - UNDP

KUWAIT, March 30 (KUNA) -- Humanitarian and development bodies at Kuwait III donor talks for Syria will work to combine urgent and development assistance to the displaced amid a conflict that has entered its fifth year, a UN Development Programme official expected.
UNDP Assistant Director and Arab Regional Bureau Director, Sima Bahouth, upon arrival in Kuwait to attend the talks expressed gratitude for the Kuwaiti people and His Highness the Amir's hosting of the talks, which she said the whole world are bearing witness to.
She said the UNDP senses commitment on the part of Kuwait, even after hosting these global aid-pledging talks, to ensuring the development and humanitarian needs are met due to its long experience in these efforts.
About neighbouring Arab nations that have been affected by the crisis, she said development there has gone behind - with Jordan, for example, having a 20percent refugee population and 25percent of Lebanon's population also being of refugees.
This has deteriorated the development problem, particularly on the scales of drinking water, healthcare, education and infrastructure - these are all development matters, she stressed.
If these neighbouring countries are not helped, she warned, many problems will accumulate particularly in the health of women, children and education.
The solution is through the international community's immediate assistance not only to surrounding countries, but also to Syria itself. (end) kt.sd