(MENAFN- Arab Times) KUWAIT CITY March 31: International donors pledged $3.8 billion at the 3rd International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria even as the United Nations appealed for $8.4 billion. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah opened the conference announcing Kuwait's pledge of $500 million which was topped by the United States' pledge of $507 million as announced by Ambassador Samantha Power the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Representatives from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia pledged $100 million $60 million respectively. Meanwhile the European Union members' contributions amounted to $1.2 billion Britain with $150 million Norway $93 million Canada $15 million and Australia $20 million. 'In view of the continuing tragedy suffered by our brothers and sisters in Syria and proceeding from our belief in the importance and the need to convey a message to the Syrian people that the international community stands by them feels their suffering and will not abandon them in their plight I am pleased to announce the contribution of the State of Kuwait in the amount of $500 million from both the public and civil sectors' HH the Amir stated. His Highness the Amir shared his dismay at the alarming figures coming out of Syria now in its fifth year of conflict 220000 Syrians dead and 11 million displaced. He commended the generosity of the neighbouring countries of Lebanon Turkey Jordan Iraq and Egypt that are hosting 3.9 million Syrian refugees as well as the work of various relief agencies.
Other indicators of its socio-economic collapse include high unemployment of over 50 percent 4 out of 5 Syrians now living in poverty life expectancy cut by an astounding 20 years and the country having lost nearly four decades of human development. HH the Amir shared that the crisis in Syria has created a safe haven for terrorist groups who use it as a launching pad for their sinister plans.
He stated that as the international community and particularly the security council have failed to provide a solution that would put an end to the conflict he urged them to put aside their narrow interests and wide differences and join forces to bring about a resolution. HH the Amir stressed that the only comprehensive way out of this conflict is based on the First Geneva Communique of 2012 and reaffirmed Kuwait's support to the efforts of the special envoy of the UN Secretary General to Syria Staffan de Mistura. HH the Amir strongly called for perpetrators of human rights violations and crimes against the Syrian people be brought to justice. Ambassador Power in her address stated 'Countries must close the widening gap between what we are providing and what the Syrian people desperately need. That is why President Obama sent me here today to announce that the United States is pledging $507 million in addition to the nearly $3.2 billion we have provided since the conflict began. We are directing this aid to help meet Syrians' immediate needs such as treating more than 2 million patients in US-supported hospitals and clinics and feeding nearly 7 million people. And today's pledge comes on top of the substantial bilateral assistance we are giving to Syria's generous neighbors who are hosting millions of refugees who are placing a huge strain on overstretched health and education systems.'
By: Cinatra Fernandes and Dina Naser
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