Kuwait pledges close to $90 million to UN Türkiye & Syria earthquake response [EN/AR]

(NEW YORK, 20 March 2023) Kuwait has pledged close to $90 million to support the United Nations’ efforts to assist survivors of last month’s earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.

The pledge will go towards the United Nations Flash Appeals for both countries and includes contributions from the Government and the public.

“It has been more than a month since the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria and I am very concerned that the funding levels are nowhere near where they should be,” said Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. “This new contribution by the Kuwaiti Government and people will help us provide immediate assistance to families who have been left with nothing. We are grateful for this support.”

The funds, among the highest by a single country so far, will help United Nations agencies provide nutrition, education, shelter, protection, health, early recovery and water, sanitation and hygiene services to some of the 18 million people affected by the earthquakes in both countries.

“Under the guidance of His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Kuwait by Your Side fundraising campaign was launched on February 12, 2023, and managed to yield a total amount of $67.7 million. A further $30 million in relief efforts had been announced by the government of the State of Kuwait prior to the fundraising campaign, making the fully pledged amount by the State of Kuwait to the victims of the massive earthquake that hit parts of Turkiye and Syria a total of $97.7, which have been equally distributed between the two affected countries,” said Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“The State of Kuwait remains a staunch supporter of the efforts exerted by UN agencies in providing humanitarian assistance and emergency relief aid to effected countries, stemming from our belief in the importance of supporting and strengthening our international and regional partnerships, especially at the humanitarian level,” he added.

Following the earthquakes, the UN announced it would need $398 million for the immediate response in Syria and $1 billion for the response in Türkiye.

To date, the Syria earthquake appeal is 79 per cent funded, while the Türkiye earthquake appeal is at 19 per cent.

For further information, please contact:

Naiera Ellethy Ahmed, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: Tel: +20102247544, Email: naiera.ahmed@un.org