KUWAIT CITY, Nov 1: The State of Kuwait today urged the international community to follow unified policies based on dialogue and peaceful channels when dealing with issues related to refugees and displaced persons in order to achieve the collective security sought by all members in light of non-traditional cross-border threats.

This came in a speech by the Permanent Delegation of Kuwait to the United Nations, delivered by Diplomatic Attaché Ahmed Al-Dikaan before the Third Committee of the General Assembly concerned with Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Affairs.

Al-Dikaan said that the State of Kuwait affirms its commitment to supporting refugee issues in line with its humanitarian diplomacy, expressing the country's appreciation for the efforts made by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in providing the basic needs of education and health care for Palestine refugees in several countries.

Al-Dikaan added that Kuwait supports the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which includes the return or resettlement of refugees in various parts of the world while providing them with protection. He renewed the country’s call to ensure the safety of UNHCR workers, as many of them work in conflict zones or areas where climate change is widespread.

He pointed to the country's humanitarian efforts that have affected all parts of the world in the wake of the worsening crisis of refugees and displaced persons, in a fair manner without regard to race or affiliation, explaining that this approach has contributed to a positive impact on the lives of many by adopting policies based on development and non-discrimination when providing a helping hand.

He warned that the issues of asylum and displacement are not the exclusive result of armed conflicts, but are also the result of non-traditional threats such as climate change, the spread of epidemics, and ongoing human rights violations, noting that 108 million people will be displaced by the end of 2022 to escape these repercussions that would harm their lives and the lives of their families.

Regarding the Israeli occupation’s aggression against the Gaza Strip, Al-Dikaan said that the noticeable failure to describe blatant violations of international humanitarian law amounts to giving the green light for the continuation of these brutal practices targeting the “steadfast” Palestinian people, who are excluded from the principles of international humanitarian law.

He continued, "From this platform, I reiterate my country's Kuwaiti support for the Palestinian people politically, humanitarian, and morally, after many of the international community's masks fell before a just humanitarian cause due to selectivity. Accordingly, we realize the difficulty of unifying and coordinating positions, but this must not affect our obligations and responsibilities under international humanitarian law."

In this regard, Al-Dikaan affirmed the State of Kuwait’s condemnation and denunciation of the barbaric criminal acts committed by the usurping Israeli occupation, which requires the international community to carry out its responsibilities without selectivity and double standards and to provide international protection for the Palestinian people.