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19:38 GMT
KUWAIT, March 30 (KUNA) -- UNICEF has expressed gratitude for Kuwait's "generous support" in meeting the most urgent needs of Syrian children and for hosting international donors to the cause.
"As the Syria crisis enters its fifth year, UNICEF has been on the ground to meet the most urgent needs of children, with invaluable support from donors," read a statement by the UN agency.
It went on to praise the Gulf country as "one of UNICEF's largest donors to the Syria crisis", adding that its contributions to this specific UN body have reached nearly USD 90 million.
Commenting ahead a third set of global donor talks for Syria, Maria Calivis, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said that this support, under the leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, "came at such a crucial time.
"Without this generous funding we would not have been able to reach as many Syrian children," said Calivis.
"Through Kuwait's support, UNICEF was able to reach 8.6 million Syrians with direct emergency support. Inside Syria, UNICEF procured vaccines against polio for 2.9 million children.
"UNICEF was also able to rehabilitate water supply systems and 4.3 million people were able to have clean water," she revealed.
The UN official went on to describe Kuwait as "a key partner to the 'No Lost Generation Initiative'.
Explaining, she mentioned that "more than one million Syrian children were reached with psychological support and around 3.7 million children were able to access education, inside Syria and in host communities through the funding received.
His Highness the Amir's UN 'Humanitarian Leader' designation by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in 2014 was handed "in appreciation to the tremendous humanitarian work he has done worldwide.
It added that Kuwait's designation as a 'Humanitarian Centre' "is a further recognition of the State of Kuwait and the Kuwaiti people.
It went on to mention that Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director, during an earlier meeting in Kuwait presented His Highness the Amir with the 'Kuwait Book of Achievements'.
The book highlights Kuwait's generous contributions of over USD 95 million in support to UNICEF's humanitarian work around the world, it explained.
"UNICEF continues to count on the State of Kuwait as a major global donor of humanitarian and development assistance to respond to the most urgent needs of Syria's children," concluded the statement. (end)
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