KUWAIT, March 31 (KUNA) -- Arab journalists covering the Third International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria said that Kuwait's hosting of the event for the third year in a row is a clear sign of its leading status in assisting mankind.
Asia Atrous of Tunisia's Al-Sabah newspaper said that she felt "ashamed as a fellow Arab" when seeing TV images or hearing of Syrian children dying in the cold or due to hunger or disease.
She valued highly Kuwait's hosting of the aid-pledging talks for the Syrian people, which she said stems from its designation as a UN Humanitarian Centre.
About the conflict there which has entered its fifth year, she urged the need for a political solution, calling on the international community and local sides to push in this direction.
Arab affairs correspondent at Lebanon's Al-Liwa Laila Badee said that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's invitation to hold the event is a "generous initiative" that proves his nation's commitment to humanitarian causes.
His role is one of extreme importance, she added, as the number of Syrian refugees across neighbouring nations has exceeded the whole population of Lebanon.
Meanwhile, political affairs chief editor at As-Sharq of Lebanon Ali Hammoud said that the humanitarian event is the only hope left for Syrian refugees at a time when most are occupied with politics and war.
His Highness the Amir spares no effort in coming to the aid of the people of Syria in light of his UN Humanitarian Leader title, he added.
"If it weren't for the past two conferences hosted by Kuwait, where generous amounts were given, the Syrian people would not have been able to heal their wounds," he said.
He went on to urge nations to follow in suit and to this year focus on pledging more than the USD 2.4 billion and USD 1.5 billion in 2014 and 2013 respectively. (end) kt.sd