(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) By Mohammad Al-Mutairi
KUWAIT, Nov 2 (KUNA) -- The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) on Sunday signed a USD 2.5 million grant agreement with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide essential health and clean water services for conflict-affected communities in Somalia.
The agreement was signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric, marking a new milestone in Kuwait's humanitarian partnership with international organizations.
KFAED operations supervisor for East and South Asia and the Pacific, Yousef Al-Bader, told KUNA the project aims to strengthen the resilience of Somali communities through improved access to primary healthcare and clean water, helping reduce health risks and enhance stability.
He added that the initiative includes the construction of a new health clinic in Hiraan region to provide maternal care, childcare, vaccination, and health awareness services to local residents.
Al-Bader explained that the project will also rehabilitate three existing clinics operated by the Somali Red Crescent Society by improving infrastructure, providing clean water, and upgrading waste management and essential medical equipment.
He noted that the plan involves rehabilitating the water treatment plant to boost supply capacity and establishing a water quality-testing laboratory, supported by local capacity-building programs.
The project contributes to several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including eradicating poverty, contributing to good health and wellbeing, providing access to clean water and sanitation, establishing peace and justice as well as forming partnerships to achieve goals.
Al-Bader stated that the grant forms part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Kuwait and the United Kingdom on July 6, 2025, under which both countries jointly provide USD five million to support ICRC humanitarian activities in Somalia.
ICRC Director-General Pierre Krahenbuhl said the agreement strengthens ICRC's efforts to supply safe water to Somalia's rural areas, emphasizing Kuwait's leading humanitarian role and unwavering support for global relief efforts.
He added that the initiative reflects Kuwait's continued commitment to international humanitarian work and its long-standing partnership with the ICRC, built on mutual trust and shared dedication to alleviating human suffering worldwide.
Krahenbuhl praised Kuwait's distinguished humanitarian record and its consistent support for communities affected by crises, reaffirming that Kuwait has established itself as a principled and compassionate donor nation focused on global solidarity and assistance.
This grant represents the second collaboration of its kind between the two institutions in the field of humanitarian support, following the first grant agreement signed on August 24, 2021, worth USD 3.5 million, to enhance essential services for Syrian refugees in Lebanon. (end)
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