KUWAIT: A UN official spoke highly here yesterday of Kuwait's contribution to backing the issues of refugees everywhere in the world, together with its humanitarian role. Speaking to KUNA to mark the World Refugee Day , which falls on June 20, the chief of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Kuwait, Wahid bin Omar said Kuwait plays a pioneering and distinguished role worldwide regarding refugees. Kuwait contributes USD one million to the UNHCR's budget every year, not to ment
ion other financial contributions by Kuwaiti non-governmental organizations (NGOs), he said.

By providing humanitarian services and relief aid to many countries worldwide, Kuwait has alleviated the woes and plight of many disaster-stricken people, the UN official added. But, he called for stepping up coordination between the UNHCR and Kuwait and its NGOs over humanitarian aid to refugees and homeless people.

UNHCR offices worldwide are marking World Refugee Day with a variety of events throughout the month of June. World Refugee Day is the one-day of the year created to draw the world's attention to the most vulnerable and disenfranchised people - refugees.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) 2009 Global Trend Report, there are approximately 15.2 million people classified as refugees around the world. This number only represents a portion of the displaced.

According to the report, 2009 marked the highest volume of forcibly displaced people - approximately 43.3 million people fled their homes due to violence or persecution. Refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) bare the brunt of dysfunctional governments and the backlash of geopolitical conflicts.

�Meanwhile, in Manama, former US ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Sam Hanna Zakhem on Saturday said he is embarking on a project to document His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's diplomatic career as "the best foreign minister of all time.

Kuwaitis are lucky and of the most fortunate peoples in the Middle East due to sound governance and deep insight of HH the Amir," Zakhem said during his meeting with Kuwaiti Ambassador to Bahrain Sheikh Azzam Mubarak Al-Sabah earlier today.

He added that the Kuwaiti government is devoted to its people and cares for them, especially at the cultural level, which contributes to maturity and advancement of any society. "I consider Kuwait my home far from home, as I enjoy warm relations with former Kuwaiti ambassadors in Washington," a press release by the embassy in Bahrain quoted Zakhem as saying.

Kuwaiti is a strategic ally to the United States, and HH the Amir is seen as a historic leader, whom under his leadership Kuwait, as well as the international community, are witnessing advanced and dynamic interrelations," Zakhem, who is of Lebanese origin, pointed out.

On his part, Ambassador Sheikh Azzam Al-Sabah said Kuwait is keen on its relation with the international community. "Kuwait is a country of friendship and brotherhood, and is continuing on this path under the wise leadership of HH the Amir," the ambassador noted. - Kuwait Times