Syrian Diplomat Praises Kuwait's Humanitarian Support for His Country During the Years of Crisis
Qutaiba Qadish, Director of the International Development and Cooperation Department at the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, praised the significant humanitarian role played by the State of Kuwait and the Kuwait Red Crescent Society in supporting the Syrian people throughout the years of the crisis in his country. He emphasized that Kuwait has a history of benevolence and steadfast fraternal stances, manifested in various forms of humanitarian aid and assistance to Syria.
Speaking to KUNA yesterday, Qadish stated that during his visit to the Kuwait Red Crescent Society, he affirmed that the Syrian people would never forget Kuwait’s humanitarian positions, which stood alongside millions of Syrians during periods of displacement and suffering. He noted that the number of displaced persons during the crisis years reached approximately 4 million, and that Kuwaiti aid remained present across all stages to meet their humanitarian and living needs.
Qadish, who is leading a visiting Syrian delegation to Kuwait, added that the visit to the Kuwait Red Crescent Society provided an opportunity to learn about the Society’s operations and to discuss Kuwait’s contributions to various humanitarian projects in the coming phase. He highlighted an agreement to establish a new mechanism for coordination and cooperation based on needs and priorities within Syria, as well as to enhance communication between the Syrian Red Crescent and the Kuwait Red Crescent to discuss priority projects and submit humanitarian proposals for implementation.
For his part, Khaled Al-Mughams, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society, told KUNA that the State of Kuwait, in its leadership, government, and people, has spared no effort since the beginning of the Syrian crisis to extend help and support to their Syrian brothers. He pointed out that Kuwait has hosted and chaired donor conferences to support the humanitarian situation in Syria, along with making financial humanitarian commitments related to that cause.
Al-Mughams said that the Kuwait Red Crescent has been present since the early years of the crisis through relief and humanitarian programs targeting refugees and displaced persons in Syria and neighboring countries. Since 2013, the Society’s initiatives have included diverse projects such as the “Bread” project in northern Jordan, which benefited approximately 3,500 Syrian families in one of its phases; the “Kuwait Stands with Displaced Families” campaign in 2015; and the “Warm Winter” campaign in 2016, which provided heating fuels and blankets to around 30,000 Syrian displaced persons in Lebanon. Additionally, food and supply aid were provided in Eastern Ghouta in 2018.
He added that the health sector formed a core pillar of the Society’s efforts. In 2020, Kuwaiti doctors and medical personnel were dispatched to Jordan to perform surgical operations for approximately 50 Syrian refugees. Efforts continued in 2022 with the dispatch of a medical and advisory team to conduct specialized surgeries, alongside distributing winter clothing to around 1,200 families and implementing a second phase of specialized surgical operations for Syrian refugees.
Al-Mughams explained that the Society swiftly responded to the devastating earthquake that struck northern Syria in 2023 with an emergency response that included chartering two cargo planes carrying approximately 8 tons of relief and medical supplies, providing food aid to around 1,000 families, allocating $2 million to support relief efforts, and sending a land convoy of 12 trucks loaded with tents, while distributing complete shelter kits to approximately 600 families.
Al-Mughams noted that in 2024, support continued through the “Daily Bread” project in Lebanon, and that 2025 saw the operation of an aerial relief bridge carrying tons of relief and food materials. He stated that 2026 represents a continuation of this humanitarian journey. He emphasized that the Syrian delegation’s visit offers an opportunity to strengthen coordination and assess needs and priorities in the coming phase, reiterating the Society’s readiness to continue supporting their Syrian brothers in coordination with relevant authorities and to translate Kuwait’s humanitarian approach into projects and programs that address existing needs.
