UNIPATH STAFF
Kuwait has agreed to donate $2 billion to help rebuild Iraq after the depredations of Daesh. The contribution was announced at the Kuwait International Conference for Reconstruction of Iraq, partly organized by the United Nations in Kuwait City in February 2018.
In announcing the donation, His Highness the Emir of Kuwait Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, highlighted Iraq’s suffering at the hands of Daesh and its affiliates.
“We realize the scale of destruction wrought on Iraq as a result of terrorist organizations’ control of some of its lands,” the emir said.
He added: “Iraq’s stability is an inseparable part of security and stability of the state of Kuwait and the region.”
The summit in Kuwait brought together representatives from dozens of nations and nongovernmental organizations to provide aid toward Iraqi reconstruction. In addition to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey also agreed to provide billions of dollars to help the Baghdad government rebuild its war-torn northern provinces. All told, $30 billion in donations were pledged to Iraqi reconstruction.
Much of the money would go toward housing and infrastructure damaged during Daesh’s occupation of cities such as Mosul. The U.N. estimates 40,000 homes were destroyed in Mosul.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised Kuwait for its service, not just to Iraq, but to Syria and other countries suffering from conflict. Other beneficiaries of Kuwaiti generosity include Chad, Somalia and Sudan.
“I thank the government of Kuwait for demonstrating, once again, its commitment to its neighbor,” the secretary-general said. “We are all grateful to the emir for his role as a bridge builder, an honest broker, and a source of support to countries in the region and around the world.”