KRCS launches ‘donation’ drive on onset of Ramadan

Bid to treat Syrian refugees

KUWAIT CITY, May 27, (KUNA): Living up to its status as International Humanitarian Center, Kuwait continued offering assistance to needy people in the Middle East and beyond throughout the just-ended week.

On Sunday, May 21, Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) said it was launching a donations’ campaign with the onset of the fasting month of Ramadan to raise money for treating Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon as well the injured and patients in Yemen.

Lama Al-Othman, director of projects development at the society, said the financial allocations would be used for patients in need for dialysis, treating refugees suffering from cardiac diseases and illnesses, cancer, spinal problems or those who need artificial limbs.

The society receives donations throughout the fasting month at its headquarters from 10 am to 2 pm, or via its website.

Donors who show up first encourage others to follow suit, particularly amid Ramadan’s special spirituality, she says.

The KRCS has organized a series of medical and relief operations for the refugees and the people of Yemen. Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Iraq Douglas A. Silliman praised Kuwait for its humanitarian efforts, especially the initiatives to alleviate the sufferings of the displaced Iraqi people.

In a press statement after meeting the KRCS Deputy Chairman Anwar Al-Hasawi, Silliman lauded the KRCS’s programs supporting the displaced families in Iraq.

These programs have been appreciated by the Iraqi authorities and the humanitarian organizations operating in the country, he affirmed.

The US diplomat was briefed on the society’s philanthropic efforts and initiatives both on the local and regional scenes as well as around the globe.

He was also offered an account of Kuwait’s efforts through the “Kuwait is by your side” campaign to help the Iraqis.

On his part, Al-Hasawi said in a statement that the society is committed to continuing consultations with the parties concerned with the issue of the displaced in Iraq, out of keenness to help and support.

The KRCS looks forward to more coordination with the regional and international organizations in Iraq to achieve the relevant humanitarian and development projects there. In Irbil city Kuwait distributed later in the day 30 tons of urgent food aid to displaced Iraqis in the war-torn northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

The aid is part of Kuwait’s ongoing campaign entitled, “Kuwait is By Your Side”, an initiative launched to mitigate the misery many Iraqis are mired in, Najim-el-Din Mohammad, a representative of Iraq’s Barazani Charity, told KUNA.

Dismal

On the recipients of the aid, he said they face dismal conditions and are in dire need of such support, as he thanked Kuwait for the copious amounts of aid that has flowed into Iraq.

Meanwhile, Iraq’s Minister of Immigration and Immigrants Dr Jassim Al-Jaf urged international organizations to work together to rebuild areas that have been liberated from “the clutch of terrorism.” Kuwait handed out some 6,000 food baskets to needy Iraqi families living outside of camps scattered across the war-ravaged city. In Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, the humanitarian campaign “Kuwait Besides You” said it rushed medical supplies to Yemen to help counter the recent cholera outbreak.

The supplies were sent to the hospitals in the Abyan Governorate, Dr Emad Abdulrahim, a campaign official, said, reaffirming keenness on helping Yemeni people stop the spread of the deadly disease.

The medical supplies comprise necessary medications and equipment to deal with the cholera spread, he said.

For his part, Director of the Public Health and Population at Lawdar Health Directorate in Abyan Abdullah Mezahem expressed gratitude to

Kuwait distributes 30 tons of urgent food to displaced Iraqis in Mosul.

KRCS distributes some 2,000 food baskets to Iraqi refugees in Basra.

Kuwait’s Peace Society for Humanitarian and Charitable Works in Kyrgyzstan.

Kuwait for rushing to send live-saving medical aid to Yemen.

He noted that 406 infection cases and two deaths were registered in his area.

Cholera is a highly contagious bacterial infection spread through contaminated food or water.

On Monday, May 22, KRCS announced it has distributed some 2,000 food baskets to Iraqi refugees in Basra, in coordination with the General Consulate of Kuwait and the Iraqi Red Crescent Society.

Deputy Director of Youth and Volunteers Department Ahmad Al-Faqaan said the KRCS has continued its relief efforts in various Iraqi provinces, including Basra.

Al-Faqaan, who heads Kuwait’s relief delegation to Basra, said the food baskets contained all sorts of food needed for Iraqi displaced people in Basra.

He expressed hope that the assistance will contribute to helping the displaced Iraqi families to overcome their hard conditions, stressing keenness of the KRCS to provide all help and assistance to displaced Iraqis in Iraq’s various towns and cities, especially in Basra.

He praised the role played by the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry represented by the Consulate of the State of Kuwait in Basra to facilitate the mission of the KRCS to work and coordinate with the Iraqi relief organizations, including the Iraqi Red Crescent to provide assistance to displaced Iraqis there.

He said the KRCS’ program for the relief of displaced Iraqi families was praised by the Iraqi authorities as well as humanitarian organizations operating in Iraq.

In Amman, capital of Jordan, Kuwait’s Patients Helping Fund Society (PHF) said will offer the Palestinian refugees in Gaza pharmaceuticals worth $20,000.

The PHF and UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) signed a medical aid agreement at the Kuwaiti embassy in Jordan.

Kuwait’s Ambassador to Jordan Hamad Al Duaij, PHF Chairman Dr. Mohammad Al-Sharhan and UNRWA Senior External Relations and Projects Officer, Munir Mannah attended the signing ceremony.

The medical aid reflects Kuwait’ commitment to alleviating the impact of the humanitarian tragedy the “Palestinian brothers” in Gaza have been experiencing in the health sector, Al Duaij said.

He added that for Kuwait, Palestine is the Arabs’ “major cause.” On his part, Dr Al-Sharhan said the UNRWA is the official authorized body committed to implement such agreements on the ground “in real time”.

This is not the first with the UN agency, and will not be the last amid the Palestinian people’s struggle and dire need for continued assistance, he stressed.

UNRWA’s Mannah said that a previous agreement was concluded to provide drugs to the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

Kuwait is among the major donors to UNRWA, prompting the country to be a member in the agency’s Advisory Commission, he added.