Date : 26/12/2012
YEREVAN, Dec 26 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Ambassador to Armenia Bassam Al Qabandi
Tuesday handed over the sum of USD 100,000 to Armenian authorities as relief
aid to Syrians who have sought refuge in Armenia.
According to a statement issued by the Kuwaiti embassy here, the aid
follows the initiative of HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah.
The ceremony to hand over the money took place under the supervision of the
International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO), represented by Abdullah
Al Maatouq, chairman of the IIO and adviser to the Amiri Diwan and the envoy
of UN Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.
The ceremony took place at the Armenian Ministry of Diaspora in the
presence of the Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan and Advisor to the
Minister of Diaspora in the Armenian Communities of Syria Lena Halajian and
other officials and the media.
The Armenian minister praised the role of Kuwaiti institutions and charity
associations to support the large displaced Syrian community in Armenia.
She expressed her thanks to the HH Amir of Kuwait, the government and the
people of Kuwait for their support.
Hakobyan noted that the aid money of USD 100,000 will be spent for the
purchase of essential needs of food, clothing and medicine for 200 displaced
Syrian families for a period of 3-4 months.
On his part, Al Qabandi underlined the proactive role of Kuwait to help the
displaced people and refugees and noted that Kuwait will host a major
international donor conference for Syria at the end of next January.
He stressed that this move confirms the significant and effective role by
Kuwait in this humanitarian initiative announced by HH Amir of Kuwait at the
summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council held in Bahrain earlier this week.
On her part, Lena Halajian thanked the IICO for the humanitarian aid for
the displaced Syrians, noting that Kuwait is the first country that is
providing assistance and help to ease the burden of the Syrian refugees in
Armenia which shows Kuwait's keenness to reduce the suffering of refugees all
over the world.
Over 8000 Syrian refugees are now living in Armenia and their number is
increasing by the day. (end)
nk.mt
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