Kuwait donates 300,000 to UN relief fund

Kuwait has donated USD 300,000 to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund to deal with emergencies in the year 2012. The State of Kuwait, considering the significant role of the UN, its agencies and funds in the sector of humanitarian and relief aid, has decided to increase its annual donations to a number of these agencies. The declaration was made in a statement addressed by the Kuwaiti delegation at the annual UN convention on the UN donations for nations at times of emergencies. It has increased the financial allotments for the UNCERF from USD 50,000 to USD 300,000 per year, the statement said, noting that the Gulf state opted to grant more aid to needy nations through the international fund despite repercussions of the global financial-economic crisis. Elaborating, the Kuwaiti statement noted necessity of aiding nations at times of catastrophes for saving lives and minimizing damage. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, addressing the session, said the fund had donated up to USD two billion worth of aid. The fund was founded five years ago with the aim of enabling relief teams to act immediately in case disasters happen throughout the world. At the end of the session, donors, totally, pledged USD 375 million for the fund.