Kuwait's philanthropy continues to help the needy

KUWAIT, Nov 11 (KUNA) -- The State of Kuwait continues to provide aid for the needy whether in form of basic living needs or even educational services, keeping its status as a global Humanitarian Center.
Kuwait Ambassador in Tunis Ali Al-Dhefeeri announced last Saturday that Kuwait Direct Aid Society granted scholarships to 130 students in Tunisia.
The Kuwaiti initiative reflects its solid relationship with Tunisia, he said, indicating that such an initiative also carries along strong brotherly sentiments on all levels.
It also clearly expresses the close ties between the two countries despite their geographical distance, he said, pointing out Direct Aid's contribution and efforts in bringing such a distance closer.
Direct Aid's action in Tunisia has seen a significant development over the past decades, Al-Dhefeeri said, noting that the Kuwaiti society's activities in the North African country have expanded to educational and development instead of being limited to religious advocacy only.
Meanwhile, Kuwait's Al-Salam Humanitarian and Charity Society Director General Dr. Nabil Al-Oun has underscored significance of launching Al-Salam charitable compound in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan, to provide humanitarian services for Muslims there as part of current "Al-Khair" convoy 38.
He told KUNA last Sunday that the society started constructing this facility last year, explaining that it would secure educational and professional training for the orphans in particular. Three floors will accommodate 420 orphans with full time residency in addition to 720 with part-time stay, he said.
The compound includes two schools, Holy Qur'an memorization centers, mosques, a tailoring center, a central market and a playing field, he said.
The society also built 35 widows' houses, an automated bakery, 15 mosques, five Holy Qur'an memorization centers, and five water projects serving thousands of people in need, Al-Oun added.
The society workers and volunteers also distributed tons of coal to poor families and widows to help them face extremely harsh and cold winter, during which temperature drops lower than 45 degress, he said.
A delegation from Al-Salam Society also visited cancer and burns hospitals offering medications, sheets, blankets, detergents and medical equipment.
Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) put up a proposal creating two humanitarian funds under an Arab umbrella, and pledged USD 50,000 in contributions.
This came in a statement by KRCS Chairman Hilal Al-Sayer on the sidelines of a preparatory meeting of the Organization of Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies (ArabRCRC) in Turkey's resort city of Antalya, last Sunday.
The first fund is meant to help and support the families of missing and dead humanitarian workers, while the second fund will provide psychological and social support to children affected by crises and disasters worldwide, he said.
In Sri Lanka, KRCS on Thursday distributed the first batch of humanitarian relief to the displaced Sri Lankans in Hanola and Padukka villages in Colombo, after a wave of heavy rains and floods struck the country lately.
"The humanitarian relief included 8,000 food parcels, 800 cooking and personal hygiene substances distributed in Colombo in cooperation with Sri Lankan Red Cross Society (SRCS), KRCS' head of the field team in Sri Lanka Khaled Al-Mutairi said in remarks to KUNA.
The team will supervise the distribution of the aid on the remaining affected governorates, he added.
KRCS responded to SRCS' appeal after heavy rains and floods hit the country causing severe damage to homes and forced them to flee to Colombo.
KRCS will build and reconstruct a number of the damaged homes in various governorates, he said.
The total aid offered to the Sri Lankan governorates reached 4,000 food parcels and 4,000 cooking and personal hygiene substances, to be distributed in cooperation and coordination with Kuwait's Embassy in Sri Lanka and SRCS.
In Palestine, KRCS carried out complex medical operations to 20 Palestinian children in Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
In a statement to KUNA on Thursday, KRCS chief in Palestinian territories Redha Khodher pointed out that the KRCS has also provided the children with their needs of medicine and medical devices.
She noted that 10 beneficiaries were from Gaza and the residue were from the West Bank and Jerusalem.
The surgeries included corneal, kidney and cochlear transplants, she said, adding that the KRCS teams have also offered burn treatment and implanted hearing assisting devices to a number of children. (end) bs