EU: Kuwait pledges USD 100 mn to Coronavirus Global Response

29/05/2020 

BRUSSELS- The European Union Friday published a full list of the countries and the amount they pledged at the Coronavirus Global Response virtual event held on 4 May hosted by the European Commission.

Kuwait has pledged USD 100 million for the Coronavirus Global Response, according to the EU list.

The Commission said in a statement that Coronavirus Global Response has so far raised 9.8 billion euro (USD 10.8 billion), 2.3 billion euro (USD 2.5 billion ) more than expected.

The outcome of the 4 May pledging event shows the willingness and capacity of the world to join forces and pool resources to overcome the pandemic, it noted.

Meanwhile, Kuwaitآ’s Ambassador to the EU, Belgium and NATO Jasem Albudaiwi in a statement to KUNA today underlined the importance of Kuwait's participation in the global event.

He stated that the participation of His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, who was representing His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait, is in line with "the framework of constructive interaction that the State of Kuwait attaches to its cooperation with the international community, particularly in combating the Corona pandemic." He noted the State of Kuwait donated USD 40 million at this conference, which was organized by the European Union on 4 May 2020, in addition to its previous donation of USD 60 million.

Ambassador Albudaiwi underlined that the role of the State of Kuwait in this global framework will not end and that international coordination and cooperation with the global community will continue until this pandemic is eliminated.

He indicated that Kuwait will continue to share its experiences with the virus with other countries in order to mutually benefit in the fight against the Coronavirus.

He further stated that the USD 100 million donation by the State of Kuwait to combat the spread of the virus has three goals, to discover a vaccine, find a cure for the virus and increase development of diagnosis ability.

In this context, Ambassador Albudaiwi stressed the importance of diplomacy in increasing solidarity among the international community and uniting efforts to confront the common threats facing the world.

In a related development, the pledging marathon that started on 4 May will now see the launch of a new campaign with the international advocacy organisation Global Citizen : Global Goal: Unite For Our Future, that will culminate in a Global Pledging Summit on Saturday 27 June.

Together with the Global Citizen, the European Commission said. it will step up the mobilisation of funding to enable the world to overcome this pandemic and avoid another.

Kuwait Red Crescent Society distributed 1,000 food parcels to Syrian refugee and poor families

Kuwait Red Crescent delivers aid to Syrians

29/05/2020 

AMMAN-- Kuwait Red Crescent Society distributed 1,000 food parcels to Syrian refugee and poor families as part of a humanitarian campaign themed "Solidarity 2020" to help the deprived in Jordan.

State of Kuwait Ambassador to Jordan Aziz Al-Dihani said in a statement to KUNA on Friday first phase of this campaign started in Ramadan, during which the society distributed 2,000 food parcels.

Kuwait has continuously aided the Syrians since eruption of the crisis in their country in 2011 -- in line with instructions by His Highness the Amir, Leader of the Humanitarian Action, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Ambassador Al-Dihani has affirmed necessity of such aid under current circumstances caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Meanwhile, head of the Jordanian Red Crescent Dr. Mohammad Al-Hadid said in remarks to KUNA Syrian refugees' conditions became harder amid spread of the pandemic and this dire situation prompted the society to seek help from its Kuwaiti counterpart.

UN commends Kuwait for tolerance, peace, coexistence among cultures, faiths

28/05/2020 

KUWAIT-- UN Secretary General's Representative and Resident Coordinator to Kuwait Tareq Al-Sheikh Thursday commended tolerance, peace and co-existence among civilizations, cultures and faiths in Kuwait.

Al-Sheikh, in a statement on the eve of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, said Kuwait, ever since joining the UN on May 14 1963, has been adopting a "sound and balanced" policy in line with principles and objectives of the UN Charter.

Al-Sheikh, also marking the international day of living together in peace that marked May 16, said Kuwait's domestic and foreign policies aimed at promotion of peace.

Kuwait, he added, has been a broker of peace in the region and a leader in humanitarian action in Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Libya and Afghanistan as well as its attempts to address the Gulf crisis.

Kuwait also called for the promotion of peace during its 2018-19 UN Security Council membership, he said.

Al-Sheikh said the two international days were opportunities to appreciate UN peacekeepers' contributions to peace around the world, particularly during the spread of the coronavirus.