UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the State of Kuwait’s pledge of US$ 17 million to support its efforts to assist millions of people in Syria and Türkiye who were impacted by the devastating earthquakes that hit both countries last February.
This contribution comes as part of the State of Kuwait’s wider pledge of US$ 97.7 million to support people impacted by the earthquakes, through the United Nations organizations and specialized agencies and other international humanitarian organizations.
At least 8.8 million people live in the areas impacted by the earthquake in Syria, with the majority anticipated to need some form of humanitarian assistance. Prior to the earthquake, an estimated 15.3 million people inside Syria were already in need of humanitarian assistance. In Türkiye, the earthquakes impacted over 15.6 million people, among them some 1.75 million Syrian refugees. UNHCR is currently providing several thousand life-saving relief items for affected populations and continuing and extending its emergency response, working closely with UNHCR’s partners and coordinating bodies.
UNHCR’s Representative in Kuwait, Nisreen Rubaian, expressed appreciation for Kuwait’s “genuine humanitarian partnership” evidenced through its support for those people in need worldwide,: “The pledge reinforces Kuwait’s humanitarian role, and we are extremely grateful to His Highness, the Emir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, for his humanitarian commitment to help those in need, support them, and stand by them in times of crisis.
The earthquake has claimed more than 54,000 lives in both countries and caused massive destruction to an area where more than 23 million people live. Many of those affected had been displaced either within Syria or across the border into Türkiye as refugees during 12 years of conflict.
The United Nations has asked for US$1 billion for the humanitarian response to the earthquake in Türkiye and nearly US$400 million for Syria. UNHCR’s part of the response plans totals US$201 million to respond to the humanitarian needs of the survivors and those affected by the earthquakes, such as shelter, food, healthcare, psychosocial support and protection services, in coordination with the authorities in both countries.
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
