Kuwait pledges $500m to Syria

Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah said Wednesday that the government pledged USD 300 million and Kuwaiti non-government organizations promised USD 200 million; amounting to a total of donations USD 500 million dollars. In response to a question by reporters which referred to doubts that such amount would actually reach the Syrian people, Al-Abdullah expressed hope that such question by the media would be addressed to officials in the United Nations. "Kuwaits role is to prepare for this conference and to bring together as much as possible partners to pledge their commitment in response to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's call," Sheikh Abdullah said. The minister noted that efforts exerted by His Highness the Amir is well known to all, adding "we are all proud of the name given by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon when he said, he is a hero and one of the international humanitarian work heroes." Sheikh Abdullah added that there might be disputes over internal affairs, but they do not dispute over their humanitarian duty toward those who need it most, stressing that collecting such pledges and ways to distribute them is something the UN, not Kuwait, will do. The minister also praised all countries which pledged humanitarian aid in this conference.