| KUWAIT CITY (Agencies): Kuwait said Sunday it was offering $500 million in oil products to victims of the devastating hurricane in the United States, the latest contribution from Gulf Arab states to the relief effort. “We, Kuwaitis, feel it is our duty to stand by our friends to alleviate this humanitarian tragedy and express our gratitude for the support extended to us by Washington throughout the distinguished ties between the two friendly nations,” Energy Minister Sheikh Ahmad Fahd Al-Sabah told the official KUNA news agency. He said the $500 million would come in the form of “oil products needed by the afflicted states in these conditions and other humanitarian assistance.” The announcement followed the weekly Cabinet session.
Kuwait is a staunch ally of the United States which in 1991 led an international coalition to liberate the country from seven months of Iraqi occupation ordered by Saddam Hussein. Kuwait also served as a launchpad for the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 that toppled the regime of the former Iraqi leader. Sheikh Ahmad expressed “the sympathy of the Kuwaiti leadership and people with the American people for the natural catastrophe that hit the United States.” “This gives us the opportunity to show our gratitude to our friends and allies who stood by us in the darkest times … They supported us with the blood of their sons,” he said. A statement by the cabinet said that Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Sabah was assigned to coordinate with the US administration to send the donation.
Under Kuwaiti law, assistance to foreign countries must be carried out through a law which must be approved by parliament. The Gulf Arab state of Qatar announced Saturday it will donate $100 million to victims of Hurricane Katrina. Bahrain on Sunday said it will donate five million dollars.
The Cabinet on Sunday also expressed regret at the wide-scale destruction inflicted by the Hurricane Katrina. According to a cabinet statement, made following the weekly regular session of the executive authority, the Council of Ministers “has followed up with deep regret the destructive impact of the Hurricane Katrina that hit regions along the eastern coast of the United States of America resulting in death of many innocent people and heavy damage. “With regard to this catastrophe and its destructive impact, the Council of Ministers decided to offer necessary oil bi-products and various humanitarian assistance to the victims of this shocking disaster at a value of $500 million,” the statement said. Sheikh Ahmad expressed confidence that the US administration would successfully cope with this catastrophe, but “it is our duty to express faithfulness considering the fact that the US had stood on our side during many circumstances.”
Three other Arab countries – Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates – have also offered aid in various forms to the United States. Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, said on Monday it was prepared to increase its oil production to make up for supply losses caused by Hurricane Katrina. Earlier offers have covered a range from Saudi Arabia to tiny Dominica, and have included Cuba and Venezuela. Among the countries notifying the State Department on Saturday of their intention to contribute were Afghanistan and Pakistan. Others joining the list were Argentina, Chile, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Poland, Romania and Tunisia. By Friday, offers had been received from Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belgium, Britain, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Georgia, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates.
President of Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND) Prince Talal bin Abdul Aziz announced on Sunday that the organization donated $250,000 to support humanitarian aid efforts in areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Prince Talal said in a statement that the AGFUND donation was toward humanitarian conditions to ease the suffering of devastated people, especially women and children. Iran on Sunday offered to send humanitarian aid to victims of Hurricane Katrina, becoming the latest US foe to extend assistance to the country often dubbed the “Great Satan” in the Islamic republic. “The victims have complained about the lack of timely assistance and we are prepared to send our contributions to the people through the Red Crescent,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi. Speaking at a weekly news conference, Asefi noted that Iran, which Washington has dubbed an “axis of evil” member and accuses of developing nuclear weapons and sponsoring terrorism, had been among the first countries to send condolences after Katrina hit. |
