UNHCR Signs Two Agreements with 'Al-Isleh Social' and 'Al-Ri'aya Islamic' to Support Refugees and Displaced Persons in Bangladesh and Sudan

Kuwait City, Sept 22 (KUNA) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) signed two humanitarian partnership agreements today, Tuesday, with Namah Charity, affiliated with the Al-Islah Social Association, and the Islamic Care Association. The agreements aim to support health and humanitarian interventions for refugees and displaced persons in Bangladesh and Sudan, as part of the ongoing cooperation between Kuwaiti charitable institutions and international humanitarian organizations.

The agreements were signed on behalf of UNHCR by Dr. Khaled Khalifa, Advisor to the High Commissioner and Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. They were signed on behalf of Namah Charity by Dr. Khaled Al-Madhkur, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Al-Islah Social Association, and on behalf of the Islamic Care Association by Abla Al-Abkal, Chairwoman of its Board of Directors. Kuwaiti Union of Charitable Associations and Orphanages President Saad Al-Otaibi attended the signing ceremony.

In a statement to KUNA, Khalifa said the two agreements include supporting vaccination campaigns for approximately 131,000 Rohingya children under the age of five and improving shelter conditions for about 327 refugee families in Bangladesh, alongside providing cash assistance to around 36 displaced families in Sudan.

He added that the agreements embody the shared responsibility toward communities forced to flee and seek refuge, reflecting the commitment of Kuwaiti institutions to transition humanitarian support into organized partnerships based on the actual needs of beneficiaries, combining international expertise with active Kuwaiti contributions.

He clarified that the agreements underscore Kuwait’s continued efforts to consolidate its humanitarian presence by supporting initiatives and partnerships that aid refugees and displaced persons and mitigate the repercussions of humanitarian crises, reflecting the established status of Kuwaiti charity and its extended role across various areas of need.

For his part, Al-Madhkur emphasized in a similar statement to KUNA that the agreement supporting health activities for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh focuses on strengthening basic health services and disease prevention, contributing to the protection of children and families within camps.

He explained that this partnership represents an extension of Kuwait’s approach of standing with affected peoples and supporting international efforts to protect humanity and provide basic life necessities, based on deep-rooted humanitarian values underpinning Kuwaiti charitable work.

Al-Madhkur affirmed that partnerships with international entities help Kuwaiti charitable institutions direct their resources more efficiently and reach the most vulnerable groups.

On his part, Khaled Al-Shammari, Head of Programs and Initiatives at Namah Charity, told KUNA that the executive aspect of the health project relies on providing medical supplies and medicines, enhancing community health activities, and raising awareness to support the continuity of health services within refugee camps and improve the capacity of facilities to handle the daily needs of the population.

Al-Shammari added that vaccination programs are delivered through primary healthcare centers supported by UNHCR in several refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, alongside health visits and field awareness campaigns for families. He noted that this approach helps transform Kuwaiti support into organized health interventions that directly reach targeted children and families.

For her part, Al-Abkal told KUNA that the Islamic Care Association’s contribution focuses on two main aspects of the needs of affected families: providing adequate shelter in Bangladesh and supporting displaced families in Sudan with cash assistance, enabling them to address their most urgent requirements.

She added that shelter is a fundamental element in protecting the family, preserving privacy, and fostering a sense of security, while cash assistance gives families a wider scope to determine their own priorities. She pointed out that this diversity in response tools enhances the efficiency of humanitarian work and makes it more closely aligned with the real needs of beneficiaries.

On his part, Al-Otaibi told KUNA that the signing of the two agreements reflects a high level of partnership between Kuwaiti charitable institutions and international organizations, highlighting the ability of the Kuwaiti charitable sector to build cooperative relationships that contribute to expanding the scope of humanitarian response and enhancing its reach to areas of greatest need.

Al-Otaibi noted that Kuwaiti charitable work is witnessing continuous development through the transition from immediate response to building more sustainable programs, improving the efficiency of interventions, and directing resources to humanitarian priorities. He affirmed that the support provided by the people of Kuwait remains a fundamental pillar in sustaining these efforts and transforming them into projects with tangible impacts on the lives of beneficiaries. (End) S.L.M./M.Kh