Words translated into action

Hats off for His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah proving, once again, to the world at large in quite crystal clear terms without any shadow of doubt and or ambiguity that he rightly and strictly believes in action and action alone and not just the words.

His Highness fully knowing the prevailing apathetic situation in Syria took personal initiative and issued the necessary instructions with no personal vested interest whether apparent or hidden whatsoever to host 3^rd International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria with the sole purpose to collect donations from different countries and associations to help those who are uprooted and suffering due to Syrian crisis. Amir initiative has been warmly appreciated and whole heartedly welcomed by many and therefore in response to Amir’s appeal, countries and organizations without reference to their topographical locations or for that matter their religious belief right from east to west and south to north sent their delegations to Kuwait to attend the conference.  Quite a hefty amount of as much as $3.8 billion has been pledged at the conference by different donors including $500 million from Kuwait as well which, as such, will help in easing the untold and unimaginable sufferings of Syrians to some extent at such grave and gloomy hour when they are suffering the worst possible scenario in their lives for none of their fault.  Amir is his presidential address inaugurating the conference has drawn the attention of the distinguished august attendees in particular and the world at large in general to the mind boggling and heart breaking facts and figures saying that since the start of Syrian crisis about five years ago, none but 220,000 Syrians have already lost their lives, innumerous have been incapacitated and injured while 11 million have been miserably displaced and crestfallen. He said that at this point of time 50% Syrians are unemployed while 4 out of 5 Syrians are living under the clutches of poverty and it is really heart breaking to know that Syrians’ life expectancy has been reduced by 20 years.

His Highness very vehemently and emphatically lauded the efforts of the leadership of the countries of Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt for their kindness to shelter 3.9 million Syrian refugees in their countries which is stress and strain on their national economies but yet in the name of humanity, love and peace alone they voluntarily welcomed the influx of poor wretched refugees. Amir went on saying that honestly speaking giving money to Syrians is not the solution or answer to the situation, rather on the contra, Syrians need return of the peace and tranquility so that the people live their normal lives which is their inborn right as guaranteed by the charter of the United Nations. He was not at all reluctant to say very loudly and quite categorically that this is the worst possible human disaster of our times and call of the time is that it needs our immediate and whole hearted attention to get it solved once for all but soonest possible otherwise undoubtedly the Syrians will continue suffering for, at least a generation if not more, and there will be no end to such unprecedented human catastrophic tragedy.

It will be not out of place to mention that Kuwait had already hosted 2 earlier conferences on the subject where many world leaders and delegations from each continent had come to Kuwait and therefore on both occasions millions have been donated by different countries and entities and the money so collected has been spent on the needy Syrians who are facing hell for as long as five years now. Innumerous world leaders have highly appreciated Amir for his concern towards the appalling conditions prevailing in Syria and therefore in response to the appeal of Amir they have doled out quite handsome money to lessen the sufferings of the Syrian people.

United Nations was absolutely right and quite judicious in bestowing the title of Humanitarian Leader on none but exclusively on the Amir His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah who time and again has proved not only helping Syrians alone but many in different countries of each continent on different counts for many long years on regular basis. His Highness is very well known to the world community that he has always been the first one to extend maximum possible help as and when there had been any natural disaster or emergency like situation be it in east, west, south or north.

Long live His Highness and Kuwait I very sincerely pray.

Iqbal Hadi Zaidi