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Kuwait provides USD 5 mln to Rohingya refugee relief efforts

Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah
Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah
KUWAIT, Oct 22 (KUNA) -- Kuwait has completed the handover of USD 5 million for Rohingya refugee relief efforts, Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah said amid global donor talks held on Thursday.
The minister was speaking to nations at a remotely-held conference, aimed at providing urgently-needed assistance for the displaced Rohingya community in and outside of their native Myanmar.
At the event, co-hosted by the US, UK, European Union and the United Nations refugee agency, the minister underlined Kuwait's commitment to global efforts to address the plight of this stricken community.
In addressing their needs, Kuwait hosted a donor conference in July 2017, co-chaired by the EU and the UN, and, during its non-permanent membership in the 2018-19 Security Council in cooperation with the UK and Peru, arranged an official visit for Security Council member nations to Myanmar and Bangladesh.
In April and May 2018, it also supported the Presidential Statement issued by the Security Council for the year 2017 in this regard, he said.
He highlighted the importance of an immediate end to violence and the use of threatening and intimidation methods with this minority.
He also called on the need to push towards ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected areas and to work on the voluntary return of refugees through peaceful methods.
The minister went on to urge the need to address the root causes that allowed their displacement, namely ensuring the rights of the Rohingya community in line with the UN recommendations and the Advisory Committee of Rakhine State.
He also commended the efforts carried out by Bangladesh to host these refugees, pointing out to the financial, political and social implications of these endeavours.
"The international community faces a great challenge in confronting this cruel human tragedy, which requires a serious and immediate halt to continuing human rights violations, and to work to resolve the root causes of this growing crisis," he concluded. (end) ash.sd