By Salem Al-Methen
KUWAIT, June 20 (KUNA) -- State of Kuwait has been a major contributor to humanitarian aid, coordinating with UN agencies and organizations working in humanitarian, refugees and human rights affairs to help those in need around the globe.
Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) has been at the forefront in executing humanitarian initiatives to provide quality assistance to refugees, offering 106 grants with a total of USD 1.304 million up until fiscal year 2019-20.
The fund, in a report sent to KUNA marking the 50th World Refugee Day, said the humanitarian contribution was part of Kuwait government's international obligations to helping refugees who were forced to flee their homes because of wars and conflicts.
It said it offered assistance to Palestinian, Iraqi, Syrian, Yemeni and Myanmar's refugees in host countries, in addition to Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt and Bangladesh.
The fund, it said, initiated solid partnerships with UN agencies and national organizations to improve living and health conditions of people in need.
Citing examples of the contributions, KFAED said it funded a UNHCR project to improve infrastructure of housing facilities of Syrian refugees in Iraq's Kurdistan region and in Lebanon.
It also financed projects of UN Palestinian refugees agency (UNRWA) in Gaza Strip, which included construction of schools. It co-financed a campaign to raise awareness against coronavirus inside Syria.
KFAED, it added, contributed to cancer treatment centers in Lebanon and Jordan.
It joined hands with Kuwait Red Crescent Society to offer logistical assistance to the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The aid included building 1,200 housing units and 1,200 packages, which included blankets, kitchenware and solar power lights, in addition to constructing schools, mosques and health centers.
Kuwait also hosted international conferences to help people in Syria and Iraq, during which donors pledged USD billions. (end) skm.bs