UN boss praises Kuwaiti Amir’s leadership in region’s humanitarian crises

"He is a real humanitarian champion." – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

26/6/2016

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon began the first leg of his regional visit to the Middle East in Kuwait by meeting with senior Kuwaiti officials and addressing delegates at UN-brokered peace talks for the Yemeni conflict.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says he is highly appreciative of His Highness the Kuwait Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's personal intervention in the humanitarian crises in the region.

 "I really appreciate His Highness (the Amir's) personal intervention whenever the world faces very difficult moment," Ban said.

 Ban, who began the first leg of a regional tour in Kuwait, said the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir, named by the UN as a "Humanitarian Leader," had enabled the UN to rally huge financial support for the Syrian people.

He said he wanted to talk about "the generous and humanitarian leadership of His Highness the Amir”. Kuwait has hosted three major donor conferences to help the Syrian people during which over US$7 billion was raised and co-chaired a fourth conference in London.

Ban said it was His Highness the Amir's "compassionate leadership" that contributed to easing the suffering of millions of Syrians who are internally displaced or refugees in other countries.

 "He is a real humanitarian champion," he added.

Ban also met with His Highness the Amir, HH Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, describing the talks as "very good."

HH the Kuwait's Amir, during a reception for the UN chief, awarded Ban the Kuwait Order of Excellence in appreciation for his efforts to promote peace.

Yemen situation is of profound concern to me - UN chief 

The UN Secretary-General also said the situation in Yemen was of profound concern to him when he addressed delegations from the warring parties at UN-brokered peace talks.

"There is an alarming scarcity of basic food items. The economy is in precarious condition. Whilst the cessation of hostilities is mostly holding, there have been serious violations, causing further casualties and suffering amongst the civilian population, including children," said Ban.

"This worrying situation gives you, the delegations to the Yemeni talks, a very serious responsibility."

Ban expressed hope in a successful outcome but noted that "time is not on the side of the Yemeni people”.

“With every day that the conflict remains unresolved, their situation grows worse. The longer the conflict endures, the more time it will take for Yemen to recover.

 "The position of the international community is clear: the conflict must end, and Yemen must return to the transitional process and work towards the implementation of the Outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference."

Ban urged the delegations to prevent further deterioration of the situation and show the responsibility and flexibility required to arrive at a comprehensive end to the conflict.

Ban was encouraged by the recent releases of prisoners and detainees: "I urge the release of all prisoners, including political detainees, journalists, civil society activists and others as a goodwill gesture ahead of the Eid holiday."

Ban Meets Kuwait's FM

Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Ban Ki-moon also discussed the latest developments on intra-Yemeni talks.

During the meeting, the Kuwaiti minister extolled Ban Ki-moon's efforts at regional and international levels, and his support for security and stability in the region.

Ban expressed his deep appreciation for Kuwait’s leadership and people for their great support for the Yemeni peace talks and noted that the Yemeni conflict was no longer a local issue with its regional and international impact.

Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis are suffering from severe shortage of food and medicine, as well as the destruction of infrastructure, he said.

 "We are deeply concerned, in humanitarian situations caused by this continuing conflict, (that) there is a serious shortage of food and medicines for people; a lot of infrastructure have been destroyed," he said.

"The people of Yemen have suffered seriously so much. It is a concern not only for the United Nations; the hundreds of thousands people of Yemen are now a regional concern," asserted Ban.

Ban said the different Yemeni parties should look beyond their "own party lines and look for a better future for Yemen." If they follow this thinking, he added, "they will be able to find answers" to their problems.

 Ban hoped the Yemeni parties reach a settlement as soon as possible.

 "The longer the talks continue, the more time they will need to recover and reconstruct their country."