IRBIL, Sept 14: Kuwait Consul General in Irbil, Dr. Omar Al- Kandari, announced on Tuesday the distribution of more than 21 tons of foodstuffs to a number of Iraqi governorates. In remarks to KUNA, Al-Kandari affirmed that this humanitarian project is provided by the Kuwait Society for Relief and is distributed in coordination with the Barzani Charitable Foundation to the displaced and needy in a number of governorates of Iraq. This assistance comes under the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah, he added. In turn, Barzani Charitable Foundation President, Musa Ahmad, expressed thanks and gratitude to the State of Kuwait for its humanitarian role in supporting the displaced and people in need.

Earlier this week, Kuwait offered more than 10 tons of medical supplies to Kurdistan region, north Iraq, to help the region stem the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The assistance is part of the “Kuwait Is by Your Side” campaign, organized by Kuwait Society for Relief, Al- Kandari said. The campaign is keeping with the instructions of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah, he told KUNA, voicing hope that the Kuwaiti contributions would help the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) address the impacts of the pandemic. On his part, KRG Minister of Health Saman Hussein Muhammad thanked the State of Kuwait and its fund raising agencies for their continuous support to the region. The medical assistance include ventilators for coronavirus patients and anesthesia materials, which could play a crucial role in the combat against the pandemic, the minister said. The State of Kuwait maintains its long-standing humanitarian role in Kurdistan and offered a lot of assistance to the internally-displaced people in the region, he noted.

Meanwhile, Irbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw expressed gratitude to Kuwait for the assistance. In similar statements to KUNA, he highlighted the need of sustainable assistance for Kurdistan with a view to alleviating the suffering of the sick people. Launched in 2015, the “Kuwait Is by Your Side” campaign played a remarkable humanitarian role in supporting the health and educational sectors of Kurdistan and other parts of Iraq. The Kuwait-based Internatioinal Islamic Charity Organization set up 26 medical centers and mobile clinics supplied with the ambulances and essential equipment including artificial limbs. It has offered more than 600 tons of medical supplies to Kurdistan so far.

Khoshnaw praised Kuwait’s support for refugees in Iraqi Kurdistan region. In a statement for KUNA, while meeting with Kuwait Consul General in Irbil, Dr. Omar Al-Kandari, the governor said that Kuwait was always the first to support and aid the needy in the region. Khoshnaw also praised the humanitarian acts of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his continuous support towards the region over the years especially during the times of need. On his part, the Kuwaiti Consul said that Kuwait’s support comes from the instructions of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah, and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah towards their brothers in Iraq. Kuwait aid for Iraq will continue, and will be variated to include all people in many different fields.(KUNA)