KUWAIT, 31st March, 2015 (WAM) -- The UAE has announced to provide an additional AED367 million in aid to support the humanitarian relief in response to the crisis in Syria.
The announcement was made today by Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development and Head of the UAE Committee for the Coordination of Humanitarian Foreign Aid, in her statement during the Third Pledging Conference for Syrian People, which opened today in Kuwait with the participation of representatives of countries and organisations supporting the humanitarian situation in Syria.
Sheikha Lubna extended thanks to the Government and people of Kuwait under the wise leadership of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, ''Leader of Humanity," to host the conference, stressing the UAE's appreciation of the pioneering role of Kuwait in the humanitarian field, especially in the Syrian crisis as well as its efforts in organising the first and second Pledging Conferences for the Syrian people in the last two years.
She also indicated the UAE's rapid response in the light of the directives of the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to provide support and humanitarian assistance to the displaced Syrians inside Syria as well as in the neighbouring countries.
Sheikha Lubna, on this occasion, stated that the UAE's leadership deals with the issue of Syria and achieved its promises announced in the two previous conferences of International Humanitarian Pledging with a total of US$360 million in support.
Sheikha Lubna indicated the key role played by the UAE in the International Humanitarian Challenges to support the Syrian refugees inside Syria and the Syrian refugees in the neighbouring countries. The UAE humanitarian assistance to the affected Syrians from 2012 till the end of 2014 stood at over AED1.4 billion (US$365 million).
Sheikha Lubna said that in the framework of its response to support the affected Syrians and under the umbrella of the Third Pledging Conference for Syrian People, the country announces provision of an extra support for 2015 to the tune of US$100 million in the light of the country's efforts to strive to provide better living standard for the suffering Syrians.
The UAE delegation included Dr. Tariq Al Hidan, assistant foreign minister for international organisation affairs, the UAE's Ambassador to Kuwait, Hussein bin Rahma Al Zaabi, other senior officials, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and a number of heads of international organisations.
WAM/Hazem/AAMIR