US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to the media aboard his plane before heading back to the United States, following his visit in Saudi’s capital Riyadh, on October 25, 2015. — AFP

WASHINGTON: The purpose of last June's terrorist attack in Kuwait was to divide, but His Highness the Amir stood up and said "we will not be divided - but united," said US Secretary of State John Kerry. His remarks came in a keynote during a reception held at Kuwait Embassy in Washington, marking the 11th annual Kuwait-America Foundation gala. The event was hosted by Ambassador to US Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his spouse Sheikha Rima Al-Sabah.

There were over 35,000 people at the terror victims' funeral which is "an incredible display of unity and resistance to the evil that wants to divide and spread the philosophy of hate," said Kerry in reference to the terrorist attack that targeted Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque on June 26 this year and resulted in martyrdom of 26 and injuring 227 people.

Bad choices

On support of Syrian refugees, Kerry commended Kuwait's hosting of three pledging conferences, and pledging 1.3 billion. On the situation in the war-stricken Arab country, he said "We are living in a storm ... conflux of events that represents clashes, with a new definition of evil, Daesh. Bashar Assad made a bad set of choices. It could have been different, but he made the wrong choice when the young demanded participation and were met by thugs, and their parents were faced with bullets - and here we are today with the barrel bombs and 10,000 tortured to death with photographic evidence."

Kerry expressed hope that "for now - Obama has embraced a strategy that in the coming days might get us somewhere ... into a political transition we all seek. "Even though we didn't agree on the fate of Assad in Syria but I believe the political process went correctly, especially with indicators we received from Russia," he noted.

On his part, Ambassador Sheikh Salem said "eleven years ago, our first gala dinner benefitted Iraqi women and children refugees through USA for UNHCR. Tonight, we come full circle, and it is hard to believe that after more than a decade, the tragic situation for refugees in the Middle East has not gotten any better. In fact, it is worsening by the day. As you know, the situation in Syria continues to deteriorate, and neighboring countries, particularly Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, are struggling to host over four million refugees. Also, several European countries have now become a destination for hundreds of thousands of refugees seeking refuge and shelter from their war-torn countries," he said.

Tragedies at sea

"The graphic images we all saw recently of the tragedies unfolding at sea and on beaches, on roads and on railroad tracks, touched our very humanity, and this is why we are here tonight. We are here to try and make a difference in our very small way. It is truly a blessing to be able to bring this community together for a cause that matters," Sheikh Salem added.

At a country level, Sheikh Salem pointed out that "Kuwait is committed to humanitarian causes. We have given 1.3 billion in humanitarian aid since the start of the Syrian conflict, over $340 million of which have gone to support UNHCR's work assisting Syrian refugees throughout the region. Kuwait has also hosted three international donor conferences which have grossed $7.7 billion to aid Syrian refugees." In recognition of Kuwait's role, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was formally recognized by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the September 9, 2014 as a world humanitarian leader, in recognition of His Highness's compassionate work towards alleviating global humanitarian plight, he said.

Hard-to-solve crises

"And tonight, we again bring our friends together to support the United Nations and UNHCR for the work they do on behalf of refugees in general and Syrian refugees in particular." On Secretary Kerry, he said "John is a most extraordinary leader and his achievements as Secretary of State are tremendous. John is known to go anywhere, anytime in pursuit of a diplomatic solution for hard-to-solve crises. "His dedication was perhaps best shown when after he fractured his leg while biking in Switzerland, he turned his hospital room into a working headquarters, from where he continued leading the negotiations that secured the Iran nuclear deal.

"In addition, John continues to advise the President on a number of pressing international issues, including helping to navigate Middle East conflicts in search of peace, working to find answers to climate change, leading the fight against terrorism and last but not least, providing much-needed humanitarian aid all over the world."

On his part, UN Deputy Secretary General Ian Eliasson, said that Kuwait has been the "humanitarian champion" and His Highness the Amir is the driving force behind it. "The UN only received 40 percent of funding that it needs to keep the Syrian people living in suitable conditions. Responsibility that needs to be stepped up. We have to end this war this year, another winter is unbearable for them and for us to think of," he concluded.

Goodwill Ambassador

On her part, Sheikha Rima said "Tonight we honor the United Nations, and particularly the life-saving work the UN Refugee Agency is doing for Syrian refugees. I could not imagine anyone better placed to receive the award, not only on behalf of UNHCR, but in the name of the entire United Nations. "It has truly been a privilege for me to be appointed Goodwill Ambassador by the High Commissioner; a role I am honored to fulfill. By last count, 42, 500 people were forced to flee their homes every day because of war, violence, and persecution. Over the past five years alone, 15 conflicts have flared up. Old conflicts remain unresolved. The biggest of the new emergencies - the Syria-Iraq mega-crisis - has grown and grown over the last five years," she stressed.

"UNHCR staff, 88 percent of whom serve in the field, work around the clock to meet basic needs of refugees, always mindful of the specific needs of women and children. "UNHCR and its sister humanitarian agencies, all part of the UN family that Jan Eliasson oversees, are making a real, tangible impact on the lives of refugees and other displaced people by providing shelter, safety, nutrition, education, health and legal protection - and, wherever possible, opportunities for livelihood and a solution to their refugee plight."

Sheikha Rima then awarded Deputy Secretary General Eliasson to receive, on behalf of UNHCR, the 2015 Kuwait-America Foundation Humanitarian Award, as well as a USD-one-million check from tonight's donations. Dignitaries who attended the gala also included Queen Noor of Jordan, IMF President Christine Lagarde, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, Chief of Staff at the White House Denis McDonough, Undersecretary of State Anthony Blinken and Kuwaiti Businessman Qutaiba Al-Ghanim. - KUNA