‘Partners for Yemen' conference kicks off with Kuwaiti support
'The people of Yemen are at the heart of our concerns,' Abdulrahman Al-Mutawa, Deputy General Manager for Projects at IICO, told KUNA on the sidelines of the conference. He emphasized that supporting education in Yemen 'is not a choice but a humanitarian duty' and an investment in Yemen's future.
Al-Mutawa highlighted that IICO has worked extensively to support education especially in fragile conflict-affected areas, with Yemen being a top priority. 'Last year, our strategic initiatives led to the implementation of 126 education projects in 23 countries, in partnership with 56 local and international organizations,' he said.
He added that these projects have benefited over 48,000 people, including more than 20,000 students receiving full sponsorship covering educational and developmental programs. Specifically in Yemen, IICO has carried out various education and humanitarian projects over the last five years worth nearly $11 million, collaborating with nine Yemeni organizations. These efforts have helped over 55,000 students inside Yemen and abroad.
The projects include building three university colleges currently under construction, establishing and equipping 15 schools and technical institutes, implementing 27 higher education support projects, and 17 programs related to scholarships, sponsorships, and educational conferences.
Al-Mutawa acknowledged that Yemen's educational needs still exceed current efforts. 'The scattered efforts need unification, coordination, and integration, which we hope this conference and real partnerships will achieve,' he said.
Ghanem Al-Shaheen, Director of Programs and Projects at Rahma International, told KUNA this was the association's second time participating after the first conference in Istanbul. He noted Kuwait's charitable organizations and government institutions play a leading role in humanitarian support. 'We have contributed a lot to Yemen, especially in education, through our 'Tawasul' foundation there, which runs many educational projects in cooperation with the Yemeni International Development Agency organizing the conference,' he said. 'Kuwait, known as the 'Land of Humanity,' continues supporting humanitarian work worldwide.'
Kuwait's Ambassador to Malaysia, Rashid Al-Saleh, said the conference reflects Kuwait's firm commitment to providing aid globally, especially in Yemen, which faces severe humanitarian challenges. He added that Kuwait's sponsorship and involvement in this conference demonstrate its belief in education as a pillar for community advancement.
Yemen's Deputy Minister of Education Ali Al-Abab, praised the efforts of donor countries, including Kuwait, in supporting education and global humanitarian work. Al-Abab said the conference aims to mobilize funding specifically for education projects, considering education 'a key gateway to Yemen's progress and future.' He added the conference will discuss the challenges facing education and the humanitarian situation in Yemen and exchange ideas, experiences, and initiatives to confront these challenges. The opening ceremony included representatives from several regional and international institutions.
Over two days, the conference sessions will address Yemen's worsening humanitarian crisis, one of the world's largest, highlighting the devastating impact of war on education, health, and the economy. Discussions will also focus on the limited international presence of Yemeni institutions, calling for new partnerships and ensuring the sustainability of humanitarian projects and efforts. — KUNA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
39 minutes ago
- Kuwait Times
Kuwaiti households reap rewards for saving energy, water
KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy says a program incentivizing citizens to rationalize their power and water use is making a significant impact in reducing consumption across the country — and rewarding consumers with lower bills. Launched in 2020, the initiative, called 'Hafez', gives financial incentives to households that prove they have cut their electricity and water usage. 'Savings start on the customer's bill, but they also reduce the massive costs the state incurs to produce electricity and water, cut fuel use, and lower harmful emissions,' said Khadija Al-Mashari, head of the ministry's awareness and media team for conservation, in an interview with KTV news channel. Under the program, electricity savings of 20 percent or less earn customers double that percentage as a discount on their monthly bill. If savings exceed 20 percent, customers receive a 40 percent discount on their electricity bill for that month. The program tracks savings month by month, and if savings occur in some months but not others, the qualifying months are added together, with rewards paid out at the end of the calendar year. For water, customers who save up to 25 percent receive double that percentage as a discount. Those who save more than 25 percent get a 50 percent discount on their water bill for that month. Like electricity, water savings vary monthly, and the total savings are calculated and rewarded annually. The program, based on Article 2 of Law No. 20 of 2016, has so far enrolled over 8,000 customers. 'More than 5,000 to 6,000 clients have received rewards, totaling nearly KD 120,000,' Al-Mashari noted. Hafiz complements the ministry's year-round 'Waffir' campaign, which focuses on public education and direct engagement. Teams have visited malls, markets, and community events to share tips on reducing consumption. 'Conservation is not just for summer — it's a lifestyle,' Al-Mashari said. Enrollment is open only to Kuwaiti citizens with private residences. In addition, the consumer must have lived at their property for at least one year, with neither the consumer nor the property having any active violations. There must be an active electricity or water service contract associated with the account number, and the property must have no overdue installment payments. Registration for Hafiz is available via the Sahel app or the ministry's website. Minor faults Al-Mashari also addressed concerns about scheduled power outages, which the ministry has previously enforced to manage high demand. Programmed cuts were imposed on parts of over 60 residential, agricultural and industrial areas earlier this summer as high temperatures put pressure on the country's grid. At the time, the ministry said consumption was 21 percent higher than the same period last year. 'As we have recently seen, there have been no programmed cuts,' she said. 'Any outages in recent months were due to minor faults in the network, which is to be expected with increasing demand as mercury soars.' She added that the ministry closely tracks consumption levels, temperature forecasts, and network performance to ensure uninterrupted service during peak summer demand. Al-Mashari stressed that conservation doesn't mean giving up comfort: 'When we say 'save,' we're not asking you to reduce your comfort or disrupt your daily routines — just avoid waste.'
Kuwait Times
40 minutes ago
- Kuwait Times
Japan's foreign minister to visit Kuwait in September
Officials highlight health sector as priority area for collaboration during high-level talks TOKYO: Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya is set to visit Kuwait on September 1 for official talks aimed at deepening the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership and exploring new opportunities for bilateral cooperation. The visit was announced during the fifth round of political consultations held between Kuwait and Japan's foreign ministries in Tokyo. The talks were co-chaired by Kuwait's Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs, Ambassador Sameeh Hayat, and Japan's Assistant Foreign Minister and Director-General for Middle East and Africa Affairs, Ambassador Toshihide Ando. During the discussions, both sides highlighted the health sector as a priority area for collaboration. In a statement published by Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Ambassador Hayat said the discussions emphasized 'the importance of the health sector and other main areas of cooperation, which can be further expanded given their priority for development, sustainability, and global competitiveness.' Ambassador Hayat said the discussions took place 'in a friendly atmosphere reflecting the depth of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, which has lasted more than six decades.' Ambassador Sameeh Hayat (right) and Ambassador Toshihide Ando. GCC-Japan meeting Consultations also focused on following up on the outcomes of Kuwait's Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah's visit to Japan in May, which elevated bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This partnership spans a wide array of sectors—including economic, commercial, investment, health, cultural, scientific, academic, renewable energy, oil, and petrochemicals—all of which play a vital role in ensuring energy security and stabilizing costs. Both sides expressed a strong desire to expand their economic cooperation and discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest. Ambassador Hayat also praised Japan's historic support for Kuwait's just cause during the 1990 Iraqi invasion and recalled the longstanding cooperation dating back to 1958 through joint oil exploration efforts. The upcoming visit by Minister Iwaya will include official talks with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya and participation in the second joint ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Japan strategic dialogue, signaling a commitment to elevate bilateral relations even further. — KUNA
Kuwait News Agency
2 hours ago
- Kuwait News Agency
Kuwait MoI: 178 residency violators arrested in nationwide campaign
KUWAIT, Aug 10 (KUNA) -- The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior, represented by the General Department of Residency Affairs Investigations, announced on Sunday, the arrest of 178 violators and wanted individuals in a wide-scale nationwide security campaign. In a press statement issued by the General Department of Public Relations and Security Media, the Ministry stated that this comes as part of implementing the directives and instructions of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah, and in continuation of security efforts aimed at maintaining security and enforcing the law. It pointed out that the campaign, carried out by the Departments of Offender Monitoring and Inspection, targeted densely populated areas. The Ministry affirmed its continued efforts to apprehend violators of residency and labor laws, stating that accountability will apply to both workers and employers, with no leniency in applying the law to everyone. (end)
