By Abdullah Al-Mershed
KUWAIT, Aug 24 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti dignitaries have highly valued the United Nations naming of Kuwait as "a global humanitarian center" and His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah "a humanitarian leader," noting that he has earned this honoring for the humane stances and tangible relief contributions for other nations for years.
International Islamic Charity Organization (IICO) Chairman Dr. Abdullah Al-Maatouq, interviewed by KUNA, said the UN honoring of His Highness the Amir, ceremony of which would be held in New York in September, will be in appreciation for the great humanitarian role played by Kuwait, namely His Highness the Amir, the Government and people, particularly the abundant contributions to worldwide relief efforts, sustainable development and productive ventures.
Philanthropic work, during His Highness the Amir's era, has recorded "huge leaps for development and global spread, and this is due to His Highness the Amir's belief in such honorable humane message and role for saving lives, rescuing those in desperate need for help, namely the children and women, salvaging the poor from the swamps of illiteracy and diseases and building a future for the orphans," Dr. Al-Maatouq said.
His Highness the Amir has instructed the IICO to organize two NGOs' conferences to relieve the Syrian people, simultaneously with the two international donations' conferences for Syria, during which Kuwait granted some USD 800 million.
Kuwait's philanthropic activities, under His Highness the Amir's guidance, have reached all corners of the world to aid the poor people, alleviate suffering of victims of catastrophes and humanitarian crises, Dr. Al-Maatouq said, alluding to Kuwait's campaigns to relieve victims of earthquakes in Pakistan and Turkey and peoples who suffered from famine and drought in Somalia.
Moreover, His Highness the Amir has guided the IICO to call on GCC NGOs to coordinate for construction of eastern Sudan.
His contributions included establishment of the USD one billion fund for supporting small and medium enterprises, during the Arab economic summit that was hosted by Kuwait in 2009, with aim of helping youth across the Arab world.
The UN honoring of His Highness Sheikh Sabah signals appreciation of the international humanitarian organizations and its leaders of His Highness' role in various humanitarian quarters, and the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has repeatedly lauded Sheikh Sabah as a humanitarian leader who has transformed Kuwait into an international hub for humanitarian giving.
It also acknowledges Kuwait's significant humanitarian role, implies praise for its charitable activities at the official and grass-root levels and constitutes an important message to all workers in the humanitarian and charitable fields.
Ibrahim Ahmad Al-Saleh, Al-Zakat House Director General, said the UN praise for His Highness the Amir as a humanitarian leader embodies gratitude for his non-stop and generous charitable and humanitarian giving at the local, regional and international levels.
His Highness has directed the House to be active at the local and international levels to care for the impoverished, thus with times it has transformed into "a distinguished philanthropic landmark that depicts the generous Kuwaiti hands at the international quarters."
Dr. Issam Al-Fulaij, the Acting General Secretary at the Supreme Consultative Committee for Completion of the Islamic Shariah Implementation, said, "Kuwait nowadays is living a golden age in the charitable and humanitarian sectors, and this is an extension of the contributions of the forefathers and the ancestors."
During era of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, a great deal of international charitable achievements have been accomplished under the name of Kuwait; such as the international conferences for aiding Syria, establishment of the fund for financing enterprises, relieving people of Gaza and various countries of the world.
Sheikh Sabah has earned the title, "humanitarian leader," because his country is distinguished with scores of philanthropic and humanitarian associations which have been in the lead globally, in terms of credibility, commitment and launching initiatives, noted Dr. Al-Fulaij.
"Such honoring has grounds, for Kuwait with government support has a record of countless charitable and humanitarian activities globally," he said. "Charitable action has become an industry of a Kuwaiti brand and a crown on heads of the Kuwaitis as His Highness has stated." Hamad Al-Omar Al-Omar, the Deputy Director General for Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development, said His Highness the Amir's directions, his humanitarian initiatives across the world, in addition to the fund's role, contributed to improving living conditions for many individuals, helped in creating job opportunities, limiting poverty and famine as well as boosting development objectives.
Kuwait's hosting of many conferences, during which His Highness launched development initiatives, constitutes a clear indication of his distinguished role and his keenness on alleviating peoples' humanitarian hardships, improving living standards and combating poverty, he said.
Al-Omar lauded His Highness the Amir's countless initiatives, namely his proclamation of a program for funding development ventures in non-Arab Asian nations -- where he declared a contribution of USD 300 million in this program.
Sheikh Sabah announced, during the Fourth Islamic Economic Forum, hosted by Kuwait in 2008, Kuwait's contribution to the USD 100 million "honorable life fund," which had been set up due to negative repercussions of the global food crisis, particularly in the under-developed nations.
For his part, Humoud Hamad Al-Roumi, Chairman of the Social Reforms Society, said the UN initiative "caps His Highness the Amir's continuing sponsorship of humanitarian and charitable activities." Tareq Al-Issa, Chairman of the Islamic Heritage Revival Society, said the international honoring of His Highness the Amir should encourage Kuwaiti activists in the domain of charitable work.
Kuwait is small in size but large in giving, seen in various parts of the world, he said.
Chairman of the Director Aid Society Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Muahailan said the UN gesture is a distinguished historic event and tantamount to an award for the Kuwaiti relief efforts. He noted Kuwait's leading role and contributions within framework of UN agencies.
Anwar Al-Hasawi, Deputy Chairman of Kuwait Red Crescent Society, said Sheikh Sabah earned the title "humanitarian leader" as a result of Kuwait's keenness on supporting development and aiding crises-stricken nations, namely the Syrian people. (end) amn.rk