Kuwait discusses human rights with GCC members
Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah reaffirmed, Wednesday, Kuwait’s firm commitment to human rights. This came in a statement to KUNA after her participation in the 17th meeting of heads of government agencies concerned with human rights in the GCC countries that was held in the Qatari Capital, Doha.
Sheikha Jawaher stressed on Kuwait’s firm commitment to promoting and protecting human rights, including close and effective cooperation with the international community in that matter. She extended her sincere appreciation to the State of Qatar for the invitation, their hospitality, and distinguished coordination to hold this important meeting, which discussed a number of topics related to promoting human rights in the GCC countries. She noted that the meeting discussed frameworks of cooperation and joint coordination between the GCC countries in implementation of the human rights strategy for the GCC countries for the years (2023-2026).
She congratulated Qatar on its election to membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) during the United Nations General Assembly in its 76th session. She noted that Qatar’s obtaining of the membership for an additional three years to its current membership (2025-2027) expresses the confidence of the international community in the effective role and the positive approach taken by Qatar in the field of protecting and promoting human rights at the local, regional and international levels.
She indicated that Kuwait, through its assumption of the presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which is scheduled to begin in December 2024, will host the next meeting of heads of government agencies concerned with human rights in Kuwait, as the term of the presidency coincides with Kuwait’s membership in the Human Rights Council for the period 2024-2026, and with its presidency of the Permanent Arab Committee for Human Rights 2025-2026. — KUNA
IICO Palestine relief projects valued at $11m since Oct 2023
International Islamic Charity Organization (IICO) has spent over $11 million since October 2023 in aid distributed to over two million Palestinians, the organization said Wednesday. Dr Abdullah Al-Matouq, the organization’s president, said in a press conference that the aid included 86 relief projects across various fields, executed in cooperation with Kuwaiti, Palestinian, Jordanian, Turkish and Egyptian charitable organizations.
IICO has utilized every possible opportunity since the onset of Zionist assault on Gaza to provide relief through airlifts, maritime shipments and trucks. He noted that over $677,000 was spent to launch housing projects, provide tents and rehabilitate several shelters for 12,000 displaced individuals, in addition to supplying potable water to over 1.5 million Palestinians in both northern and southern Gaza as part of the “Water for Gaza” campaign, which cost over $500,000.
IICO has provided urgent supplies and medications to the Palestinian Ministry of Health and other hospitals in Gaza, and sponsored 383 healthcare workers. IICO also provided urgent relief to victims of the Zionist aggression who were transferred for treatment in Turkey. The authority undertook projects to equip dental clinics at the Indonesian Hospital and supplied medical tools and medications for the injured and disabled.
Education, community
The organization, in collaboration with the Islamic University of Gaza set up five educational tents to receive 1,200 students. The centers also paid local teachers for their services and offering psychological and social support for students. Another educational project, “tawasul”, supported e-learning for 500 students in the strip. IICO also supported Palestinian students from Gaza studying in Turkish and Malaysian universities. The charity launched programs to distribute food parcels, ready-to-eat meals, fuel, and bread for displaced individuals and field workers, along with winter clothing parcels, vouchers for purchasing goods, and cash assistance. Daily meals were provided to 180,000 displaced individuals in Deir Al-Balah and Gaza’ s central governorate.
It also initiated efforts to enhance local community capabilities by employing 150 workers in agriculture, sanitation and epidemic response. An IICO campaign supported displaced families in gaining livelihoods and rehabilitating the agricultural sector in Gaza, as well as enhancing food security and restoring shelters in Jabalia camp, alongside purchasing 10,000 kilograms of olive oil from farmers in the West Bank for distribution in Gaza.
Relief bridges, convoys
The charity contributed to 40 relief flights in collaboration with the Kuwaiti Air Force and Kuwaiti charitable organizations, costing over $700,000. They also participated in dispatching three ships carrying 3,600 tons of essential relief supplies. The authority organized land convoys from Kuwait directly to the Rafah border in partnership with Kuwaiti charities, carrying 1,735 tons of supplies, in addition to supporting two air drops by the Jordanian Air Force in collaboration with Kuwaiti and Jordanian charities. Eight relief trucks loaded with 580 parcels of clothing, food, and health and women’s supplies were also prepared.
Global efforts
To mobilize efforts from international organizations for Gaza relief, the charity held an international conference to build a global humanitarian alliance to support and enhance humanitarian interventions and early recovery in Gaza, in coordination with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, involving 147 local, regional, and international organizations from 48 countries. Organizations participating in the conference committed to implementing programs and projects worth over $2 billion to support the humanitarian situation in Gaza over the next two years.
Matouq expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the supporters and donors for the charity’s projects in Gaza over the past year, emphasizing the IICO’s commitment to supporting the people of Gaza in line with its humanitarian and moral responsibilities. — KUNA
Kuwait participates in ‘Middle East Green’ initiative’s first meeting
The first session of the ministerial council for the Middle East Green Initiative kicked off today in Jeddah, chaired by Saudi Arabia, with participation from Kuwait represented by the Acting General Manager of the Environment Public Authority Samira Al-Kandari. In her speech during the meeting, Kandari confirmed Kuwait’s support for the initiative aimed at enhancing cooperation to combat land degradation and promote sustainable management of vegetation.
She said the initiative represents a pioneering step toward a sustainable environmental future by reducing carbon emissions and increasing green spaces in the region. She emphasized the importance of collective efforts to address climate change while preserving natural resources for future generations. Kandari noted Kuwait’s progress in ratifying the initiative’s charter and launching several projects beneficial to it, including the planting of mangroves, establishing a seed bank for indigenous plants, and expanding green spaces through increased protected areas, along with projects to rehabilitate contaminated and degraded soils.
The session was chaired by the Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Abdulrahman Al-Fadli, and the ministerial council is expected to make important decisions to initiate the implementation phase of the initiative. Kuwait’s delegation included, alongside Head of the delegation Al-Kandari, the Director of Environmental Rehabilitation and Activity Monitoring, Shaima Al-Fadhli, and from the International Relations Department of the Public Authority for the Environment, Talal Al-Ali and Mustafa Al-Zuhair.
The initiative aims to plant 50 billion trees across the Middle East and support regional efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to a greener future in the region. Saudi Arabia launched the Middle East Green Initiative in March 2021, aiming to mitigate the effects of climate change in the Middle East and North Africa, and announced in November 2022 a budget allocation of $2.5 billion to support the initiative and cover its operational budget for ten years, in addition to hosting its secretariat in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh. — KUNA
Charitable organizations in Kuwait celebrate the "International Day for the Eradication of Poverty."
The President of the Union of Charitable Associations and Endowments, Saad Marzouq Al-Ateeqi, emphasized that Kuwait has been and continues to be at the forefront of countries supporting the global cooperation efforts to eradicate poverty and alleviate debt, thanks to its rich record of humanitarian contributions that align perfectly with the message of the "International Day for the Eradication of Poverty" observed on October 17. He affirmed that Kuwait's commitment to helping the needy and providing assistance to impoverished communities around the world reflects a leadership vision eager to give and spread good, reflecting Kuwait's principles of humanitarian work, which earned it the title of "Global Humanitarian Center" by the international community.
Al-Ateeqi explained that Kuwait, through its charitable associations and endowments, continues to support large-scale development projects around the world, providing humanitarian aid and basic necessities such as food, water, educational and healthcare services without discrimination, believing in the necessity of helping humanity regardless of religion, nationality, or ethnicity. He pointed out that charitable organizations remain prominent symbols in the global humanitarian field, with their quick response to humanitarian challenges in disasters, wars, and famines, enhancing Kuwait's role as a key supporter in the international humanitarian scene.
Al-Ateeqi mentioned that Kuwaiti associations continue to work in cooperation with international organizations to establish educational and training projects that combat illiteracy and enhance human development in poor communities, as well as working on the creation of productive development projects to economically empower families and provide employment opportunities, supporting dignified living in those communities.
He highlighted the importance of localizing charitable work as a strategic step in promoting sustainable development within local communities, focusing charitable efforts and resources within the country to address its societal needs first before venturing abroad. Localizing charitable work helps direct support towards local development projects that enhance infrastructure, provide job opportunities, strengthen social cohesion, and reinforce the concept of self-empowerment. This approach facilitates skills development and the establishment of small projects that contribute to the financial independence of deserving families, ensuring long-term benefits and opening up new avenues for local growth and prosperity.
Al-Ateeqi emphasized that localizing charitable work plays a vital role in combating poverty by empowering those in need, meeting their basic needs locally, improving living conditions for communities through direct support and sustainable development opportunities, creating small projects for low-income families to build their capacities and financial independence, supporting long-term social and economic stability, promoting societal solidarity, and establishing a local support system that responds to societal challenges, making the goal of poverty eradication achievable through sustainable local resources and efforts.
International Quran Competition in Germany Concluded
The International Quran Competition in Germany for the year 2024 concluded its events, which lasted for 3 days under the sponsorship of the World Islamic Charity Organization, amidst the competition of 140 young men and women from 40 European and other countries, and the presence of a group of leaders from the Supreme Council of Muslims in Germany and the Al-Noor Islamic Endowment Center in the city of Hamburg.
The competition aims to magnify the Quran among the Muslim minority in Europe, motivate its children to memorize, recite, and master it, instill Quranic values and morals in them, preserve their Islamic identity, and enhance their role in building the earth and promoting values of tolerance, peace, and coexistence.
The General Manager of the International Islamic Charitable Organization, Badr Saud Al-Sumait, said in his recorded speech at the opening ceremony: The charitable organization is launching its sponsorship of this competition from a strategic vision, aimed at introducing the moderate Islamic culture. It believes that working with the Quran and adhering to its methodology is the path for the Islamic nation to regain its glory and leadership, and its way to rise again, lead the human and civilizational procession.
He pointed out the efforts of the charitable organization in serving the Quran during the past five years (2019-2023), highlighting its projects of establishing and equipping 18 Quran memorization centers in 6 countries, with a capacity of up to 10,753 male and female students.
Regarding Quran education sponsorships, Al-Sumait explained that the charitable organization sponsored over 18,000 male and female memorizers, and 712 Quran teachers in 19 countries, in cooperation with 40 partner organizations, in addition to various accompanying educational and training programs.
He also mentioned the distribution of over 84,000 copies of the Quran in 6 countries during this period, as well as the distribution of electronic Qurans in Braille for the blind, and support for various endowment, media, administrative, and Quran-related activities.
Al-Sumait also highlighted the Shafee' project for Quran memorization and its distinctive role in nurturing and hosting more than 17,500 students since its inception in 2005, stating that the project, operated under the organization, has graduated 13,598 male and female Hafizs of the Quran in 25 countries to date.
He mentioned that the charitable organization works on building and developing individuals' capabilities educationally, culturally, developmentally, and socially worldwide, emphasizing its continuous support for serving the Quran in collaboration with its partners.
On the other hand, the general supervisor of the competition, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Senani, stated that the International Islamic Charitable Organization, with its leading role in charitable and humanitarian work, sponsored the International Quran Competition in Germany as part of its continuous efforts to care for the Quran - memorization, recitation, and understanding.
Al-Senani noted that the competition consisted of three branches: memorizing the entire Quran with recitation and Tajweed, memorizing half of the Quran with recitation and Tajweed, and memorizing 5 parts with recitation and Tajweed, mentioning the judging committee including Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Al-Hazeem, an Imam and preacher at the Kuwaiti Ministry of Awqaf, along with members from Yemen, Kenya, Algeria, Morocco, and Oman.
He continued: The competition was held at the Noor Mosque with celebratory atmospheres by the Muslim community in Europe, reflecting the youth's interest in memorizing the Quran, and parents' focus on educating their children on the teachings of this great book. He also mentioned that Kuwaiti charitable organizations have contributed to the renovation of this mosque, which plays a significant role in Quran memorization, religious awareness, and care for new Muslims.
The school consists of 4 classrooms with an area of (4.5 × 3.8) for each classroom, in addition to an administration office and bathrooms. This school aims to support 160 displaced students, both boys and girls.
Ismail Al-Saeedi, the education coordinator at the implementing unit, expressed his great appreciation for Kuwait's leading role in providing sustainable humanitarian and developmental support to the displaced. He noted that the school will help alleviate the pressure on the education sector and provide a unique opportunity for thousands of displaced students to continue their right to education.
Namaa Charitable provides urgent relief to those affected in Lebanon
Namaش Charitable Foundation, a subsidiary of the Social Reform Association, distributed urgent relief aid in southern Lebanon. Its field teams, in collaboration with the Rakaz Development and Education Association, distributed necessary humanitarian materials as the number of recent displaced people seeking refuge in schools and institutes in the region continues to rise.
This response is part of Kuwait's efforts to support and alleviate humanitarian crises in Lebanon, as it consistently stands by affected countries. Najmah Charitable Foundation seeks to continue providing aid to the affected, focusing on providing food baskets, shelter materials, personal hygiene kits, and clean drinking water to meet urgent needs.
Namaa Charitable distributed winter clothes to 100 orphans and Syrian families
With generous support from benefactors, Namaa Charitable of the Social Reform Association implemented a winter clothes project for Syrian orphans and families in the Turkish city of Urfa, benefiting 100 families, children, and orphans.
The project, attended by the relief department director at Najmah Charitable Foundation, aims to provide clothing to alleviate and support them in facing the difficult circumstances they are living in. They distributed coats, winter clothes, and shoes to relieve the financial burden on these families, especially given the economic challenges they are facing.
Launch of the "University Student Support" project in collaboration between Namaa and Ministry of Endowments
Namaa Charitable, in partnership with the Ministry of Endowments, launched the "University Student Support" project at Namaa Charitable Foundation's headquarters in Sabah Al-Salem area for the first semester of the 2024-2025 academic year. The project aims to provide appropriate support for Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti students studying at accredited universities inside and outside Kuwait. They aim to provide financial assistance to needy students and their families to cover educational expenses or part of them, focusing on supporting outstanding students and directing aid to diligent students as a requirement for benefiting from the project.
