UN official affirms importance of second Syria donors conference

The Second International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria to be held in Kuwait by mid of January is of high importance for offering the needed support to the Syrian refugees, a UN official said. Najib Fraiji, director of the UN Media Center for Arab Gulf Countries, expressed hope the conference would raise USD 6.5 billion to aid the Syrians in need for support. In his remarks during a meeting with Kuwaiti Ambassador to Bahrain Sheikh Azzam Al-Sabah here on Wednesday, Fraiji, also the conference media coordinator, indicated that such a sum is required to meet humanitarian needs for millions of Syrian refugees in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, besides those who are still suffering in Syria. He expressed the UN gratitude to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for hosting the first and second Syria's donors' conferences within several months. Outcome of the first conference exceeded all UN expectation, raising financial aid higher by USD 1.7 billion than forecast, he affirmed. For his part, the Kuwaiti diplomat, Sheikh Azzam, stressed on Kuwait's keenness on the success of the second donor's conference, as well as the positive contribution to Geneva II conference, that will significantly help in alleviating the Syrian people suffering.