Kuwaiti volunteers distribute aid to flood victims in Sudan
KUWAIT/KHARTOUM: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent a cable to Sudan' Prime Minister Dr Abdullah Hamdok, congratulating him on the formation of the new Sudanese government. In the cable, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak wished Prime Minister Hamdok success in achieving the aspirations of the Sudanese people. His Highness also praised the close brotherly relations between Kuwait and Sudan, affirming Kuwait's keenness to enhance these bilateral relations and fields of cooperation.
In other news, volunteers from Kuwaiti associations distributed humanitarian aid throughout the past week to victims of floods in Sudan. The activity coincided with arrival of three aircraft laden with 110 tons of supplies, as part of the Kuwaiti 'air bridge' to help the nation in the aftermath of recent devastating floods. Among the workers were volunteers from Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS). The head of the society team, Dr Yousef Mesaad Al-Enezi, said that the KRCS teams were deployed in five regions for distributing 50 tons of food and other necessities. Meanwhile, convoys of relief supplies dispatched from the Kuwaiti Direct Aid arrived at the most hit province of the Nile, delivering 200 tons of assistance supplies for 4,000 families. Authorities said 78 people died, 98 were injured and 64,000 houses were demolished in the raging waters. The UN says an additional sum of $150 million is needed from concerned donors to cope with the floods, in addition to $1.1 billion for coping with the emerging tragic humanitarian conditions.
A third plane of Kuwait's humanitarian 'air bridge' carrying humanitarian aid meant for the victims of flash floods across Sudan had landed on Friday. RCS Secretary General Maha Al-Barjas said that the Kuwaiti plane is laden with food sent from Direct Aid Society to be delivered to the people of Sudan. This initiative comes from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's instructions for aiding "our brothers abroad to ease their suffering," she said. She pointed out that the third aid plane was carrying a number of volunteers from the Kuwait Air Force. She praised the efforts of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in speeding up the provision of aircraft to transport humanitarian aid to the affected people of Sudan. Barjas affirmed Kuwait's keenness on supporting the Sudanese people in their humanitarian crisis and alleviating their suffering.
Kuwait's deputy chief of mission in Khartoum Abdulkarim Al-Majim said meanwhile that the plane carried humanitarian aid sent by Direct Aid Society with 20 tons of food and KRCS with 10 tons to those affected by flash floods. Sudanese Chairman of the Support Committee of the Sovereign Council Musa Omar hailed Kuwait's leadership and government for aiding Sudan, adding that the humanitarian aid will be sent immediately to those affected. Direct Aid Office Fahad Abdulaziz said the plan is to provide about 270 tons of food and aid to those most affected in White Nile and Sennar and Al Jazirah states. In addition, the aid comes through two routes, through the 'air bridge' and buying from the local markets. The President of the Sudanese-Kuwaiti Friendship Society Mamoun Ibrahim expressed gratitude to Kuwaiti leadership and Kuwaiti people and humanitarian organizations. Two Kuwaiti airplanes carrying 80 tons of humanitarian aid had arrived earlier to Sudan.