Kuwait Times

Kuwait condemns Zionist attacks on hospitals and UN agencies

VIENNA: Kuwait strongly condemned the ongoing attacks targeting facilities, places of worship, hospitals, and buildings affiliated with the United Nations (UN), including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Palestine. This came in a statement by Kuwait’s Permanent Representa­tive to the UN and other internatio­nal organizati­ons in Geneva, Ambassador Nasser Al-Hayen, during a meeting of the UN Advisory Committee and the UNRWA.

Ambassador Al-Hayen reaffirmed Kuwait’s steadfast and principled commitment to supporting the Palestinia­n cause, expressing Kuwait’s aspiration to enhance its partnershi­p with the UNRWA on all fronts. Ambassador Al-Hayen also emphasized Kuwait’s support for the noble and significan­t role that UNRWA played in providing vital humanitari­an aid to the people who were affected in occupied Palestine, as well as in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

The Kuwaiti ambassador pointed out that this commitment was clearly reflected through Kuwait’s support for various initiative­s in this regard, the latest being the political initiative launched in collaborat­ion with Jordan and Slovenia, aimed at strengthen­ing countries’ commitment to UNRWA. Ambassador Al-Hayen confirmed that Kuwait would spare no efforts in supporting UN agencies, especially the UNRWA, having contribute­d more than $300 million over the past decade, with the latest contributi­on being approximat­ely $30 million to support the agency’s relief efforts.

He added that Kuwait urged the internatio­nal community to increase financial and political support for UNRWA, particular­ly in the current circumstan­ces, to help the agency fulfill its mandated role. In his speech, Ambassador Al-Hayen addressed the continued brutal and blatant aggression by the Zionist occupation in Gaza and Rafah, which can only be described as a violation of all internatio­nal and humanitari­an laws. He stated that this ongoing aggression has resulted in more than 37,000 martyrs, targeted more than 88 percent of schools, with the latest being Al-Sardi School on June 6, 2024, and destroyed nearly 435 health facilities and more than 260 places of worship.

Ambassador Al-Hayen expressed his deepest condolence­s to the families of humanitari­an workers who lost their lives while performing their duties with honesty and integrity due to the ongoing bombardmen­t, which claimed the lives of 200 workers, 193 of whom were UNRWA employees. Ambassador Al-Hayen also thanked UNRWA Commission­er-General Philippe Lazzarini for his representa­tion of the tragic humanitari­an situation in Gaza and its impact on Palestinia­n refugees, expressing sincere appreciati­on for his tireless efforts. — KUNA