Sudan's Ambassador to Al-Jarida: Kuwait has not abandoned our country in the most difficult circumstances
The Sudanese Ambassador to Kuwait, Awad al-Karim al-Rayh Balla, affirmed that Kuwait continues to present an honorable model of humanitarian solidarity with the Sudanese people. He praised the ongoing Kuwaiti initiatives aimed at alleviating the suffering of Sudanese victims of the war, emphasizing that Kuwait’s stance “will remain etched in the memory of the Sudanese people.”
Speaking to Al-Jarida, al-Rayh Balla stated that the arrival of the first direct flights transporting Sudanese refugees from Uganda to Khartoum, supported and funded by the Kuwait Direct Aid Association (KDAA), represents a highly significant humanitarian initiative. He noted that it goes beyond merely providing travel tickets; it helps families return to their homeland and reunite, enables students to resume their education, and offers the most vulnerable groups the chance to return to a normal and safe life.
He added that “Kuwait has always stood by Sudan and has never abandoned its people in the most difficult circumstances.” He pointed out that Kuwaiti support has not ceased since the outbreak of the war, but has taken various forms, including relief, humanitarian aid, and support for displaced persons and victims in different regions.
The Sudanese Ambassador said that Kuwait’s current support for the voluntary return of refugees from Uganda is a natural extension of a long history of Kuwaiti humanitarian work in Sudan.
He further stated: “In Sudan, we do not view these initiatives as mere transient aid; rather, we see them as a sincere expression of the brotherhood and affection that unite the Kuwaiti and Sudanese peoples.”
He expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Kuwaiti political leadership, the Kuwaiti government and people, and all charitable associations and institutions that continue to support Sudanese nationals. He emphasized that “this stance is not unusual for Kuwait, which has historically been known as one of the pioneering countries in humanitarian work and assisting peoples facing crises and disasters.”
Al-Rayh Balla praised the role played by the Kuwait Direct Aid Association, considering its initiative to support the return of Sudanese refugees from Uganda as “carrying deep humanitarian value and presenting an honorable model of Kuwaiti charity.”
He added: “There is a mother waiting to return to her home, a father who wants to reunite his family, a student who wishes to return to his university, and a child who wants to go back to school. When Kuwait provides them with a return ticket, it is in fact not just providing a means of travel, but helping them regain a part of their lives that the war has taken away.”
Al-Rayh Balla clarified that the project funded by the Kuwait Direct Aid Association aims to transport more than 1,000 Sudanese refugees from Uganda to Sudan through continuous flights. He noted that the first flight arrived in Khartoum carrying approximately 150 beneficiaries, with subsequent flights continuing at a rate of about 200 refugees per week.
He said this step “sends a message of hope to thousands of Sudanese in neighboring countries, confirming that there are those who stand by their side and assist them when they decide to return to their homeland.”
The Sudanese Ambassador directed a special message of thanks to the Kuwaiti people, saying: “However many words of gratitude we utter, they will not do justice to Kuwait. The Sudanese people know well who stood by their side, and they know very well that Kuwait was among the first countries to initiate assistance from the beginning of the crisis.”
He added: “We do not thank Kuwait only for this flight or this initiative; rather, we thank it for its continuous stance and sincere feelings toward the Sudanese people.” He continued: “Each time we receive a humanitarian initiative from Kuwait, we feel that there is genuine brotherhood uniting the two peoples, and that geographical distance cannot be a barrier to solidarity and love.”
