(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah stressed on the importance of holding the first World Humanitarian Summit in the Turkish capital amid growing threats on human lives posed by wars, conflicts, and terrorism.
"Conflicts and natural disasters have left many people homeless and doubled the numbers of refugees around the world," said His Highness Sheikh Sabah in his opening speech to the meeting in Istanbul Monday. According to recent international statistics, there are currently 60 million refugees and displaced people while there are also over 2.2 billion living below the poverty line, he added.
This summit is an opportunity for the international community to unite in easing the suffering of these people, through ending conflicts and providing financial aid for better life conditions, His Highness noted.
In this context, he touched on Kuwait's prominent humanitarian role, saying that his country has contributed over USD two billion for the cause in the past five years.
His Highness added that "according to international statistics, Kuwait's contributions were two times above the GDP rate agreed upon internationally." Meanwhile, His Highness said that Kuwait also played a huge role in supporting Syrians living in severe conditions due to the ongoing war in their country.
Kuwait has held three donors conferences for Syria and also co-headed the fourth one in London. The country pledged around USD 1.6 billion for the Syrian refugees. (end) kna.ag