Kuwait opens Syria donor conference with $500-mn pledge

Kuwaiti Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah kicked off Kuwait III, the Third International Pledging Humanitarian Conference for Syria, on Tuesday with a more than 465 million-euro ($500 million) donation in financial assistance, urging the UN to put an end to the war in Syria.

Al-Sabah, who co-chairs the fund-raiser with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, invited participants to show their generosity to the suffering Syrian people, Efe news agency reported.

The summit was attended by representatives from 78 countries, numerous humanitarian organisations and UN agencies, according to the official Kuwaiti news agency KUNA.

The emir noted that the economic contribution of the wealthy Gulf state seeks to "convey a message to the Syrian people, that the international community stand by them, feel their suffering, and will not abandon them in their plight".

Al-Sabah underlined that Kuwait III, sponsored by the UN, was being held in order to confront "the biggest humanitarian catastrophe witnessed by humanity in our contemporary history".

The emir reminded the invitees that only 90 percent of the commitments made during the second conference had been fulfilled.

"We are hopeful that your conference will register the generous adequate response to meet the urgent needs of our brothers in Syria," added al-Sabah.