(MENAFN- Arab Times) A UN Development Programme (UNDP) official on Thursday said Kuwait has been the "most generous" donor nation and has taken a "leading role" in coordinating and contributing to the international response to the Syrian humanitarian crisis in recent years, hosting two major International Humanitarian Pledging Conferences for Syria and fulfilling its pledges. Kuwait has been "the most generous donor nation so far in helping to deal with the on-going emergency," Sima Bahous, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States of UNDP, said in a statement, recalling that Kuwait contributed $300 million to the overall UN response in 2013 and $500 million this year
"The leadership of the State of Kuwait in the regional and international response to the Syria crisis has been exemplary. UNDP is thankful for Kuwait's generous contributions towards our shared goal of a better future for the Syrian people and communities in neighboring countries," she said. Participants at the Kuwait II Pledging Conference for Syria held on January 15 pledged $2.3 billion. Kuwait pledged and delivered $500 million: $250 million through the State of Kuwait, $200 million through Kuwaiti Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO)s, and $50 million through the Kuwait Fund for Development
Kuwait this week contributed $2.5 million towards UNDP's emergency support in Syria and neighboring countries. The check was delivered last Monday during a ceremony held at the UN by Kuwaiti Permanent Representative Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi to Jordan Ryan, Director of UNDP's Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery. Kuwait's contribution to UNDP last year was $3 million. During the same ceremony, Ambassador Al-Otaibi also delivered checks for $3 million to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); $34. 5 million to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF); and $15 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
A total of seven United Nations humanitarian agencies and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) received checks from the Government of Kuwait in both New York and Geneva the same day, totaling $249.5 million. Kuwait's contributions on Monday both in Geneva and in New York brought the percentage of funds received following the Kuwait II Pledging Conference to nearly 44% of the $2.3 billion pledged
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.