Increasing number of refugees ‘alarming’
NEW YORK/BEIRUT: The increasing number of refugees worldwide, namely Syrians, is an alarming factor that requires serious attention from the world, said Kuwait permanent envoy to the UN headquarters in New York Mansour Al-Otaibi.
Ambassador Otaibi’s statement came during the UN General Assembly’s discussions on the illegal immigrants in the Mediterranean late Friday. “The session reflects the international need to find a solution to the problem with its socio-economic repercussion,” said Otaibi who stressed that the current crisis was the worst since War World II with some 60 million refugees and displaced around the world. He noted that the humanitarian crisis in Syria, entering its fifth year, was getting worse with millions losing their lives and some 13.5 million displaced within the country.
Four million
Over four million Syrian refugees are also suffering from the war in their country, said Otaibi who noted that Kuwait continued to support their fellow human being with three donor conferences held to help the refugees. The Kuwaiti diplomat welcomed the results of the Geneva talks recently which aimed at finding a political solution for Syria.
Kuwait will be partaking and co-organizing the fourth donor conference for Syria to be held in London in February 2016, said Ambassador Otaibi, hoping that the event will help ease the suffering for the Syrian people and also contribute to a solution to the crisis.
Relief operations
Meanwhile, the Kuwait Red Crescent Society has proceeded with its relief operations in Lebanon aiding thousands of Syrian refugees. KRCS teams distributed food, detergents to Syrian families in Kherbet Roha in the Western Bekaa region and same supplies to others in Al-Talil in the northernmost province of Akkar, said Ahmad Al-Fegaan, a delegate of the society. Kuwait is a major supplier of necessities to thousands of refugees in Lebanon and other countries neighboring Syria. The Gulf state had hosted three international donation conferences, raising substantial financial funds for the refugees.