Kuwait city: UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has highlighted Kuwait's significant role as a "superpower" in the humanitarian and diplomatic spheres. Speaking at a lecture hosted by Kuwait's Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah Diplomatic Institute, Fletcher praised the country's steadfast partnership with the United Nations and its unwavering commitment to humanitarian principles.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Fletcher emphasized the importance of strengthening the existing partnership and finding ways to work more closely to ensure humanitarian efforts remain principled, effective, and efficient in serving communities worldwide. He expressed gratitude for the Foreign Ministry-led relationship, which has played a crucial role in saving lives globally over the years.
Fletcher commended the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development for its support, reflecting Kuwait's commitment to long-term resilience and stability, in addition to emergency response. He also lauded the cooperation with Kuwaiti NGOs and the private sector, highlighting Kuwait's position as one of the world's largest per-capita humanitarian donors.
Fletcher noted Kuwait's proactive stance toward the situation in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing its call for an unconditional ceasefire and advocacy for civilian protection and humanitarian access. He pointed out that the global humanitarian context has become more challenging, with overlapping conflicts and crises increasing the number of people in need to over 300 million worldwide.
Last year was recorded as the deadliest for humanitarian workers, with over 300 killed, and Fletcher expressed concern that this year could be worse. He discussed the need for a Humanitarian Reset, focusing on reform and renewal, with aims to enhance agility and efficiency through technology and community empowerment.
Kuwait Red Crescent Society Director General Fawaz Al-Mazrouei echoed Fletcher's remarks, describing them as an endorsement of Kuwait's humanitarian efforts. He reiterated Kuwait's commitment to being at the forefront of global humanitarian action, emphasizing the need for genuine partnerships to address global crises and uphold Kuwait's humanitarian legacy.