The State of Kuwait has called for international cooperation to secure fair distribution of vaccines against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to all states.
Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi, the State of Kuwait Permanent Representative at the United Nations, pledged continuing and constructive efforts, in coordination with partners, for contributing to the international response to the pandemic.
"We are convinced that no one is safe from this virus and the discussion today is held two years after outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic that has constituted the greatest challenge facing the world since World War II," said ambassador al-Otaibi, addressing a senior-level session held by the UN General Assembly on means of boosting comprehensive immunization against the virus worldwide.
The pandemic has taken some six million lives, infected more than 400 million people throughout the world, inflicted horrific damage and caused massive repercussions in social, economic, health and political sectors.
It is still widely spread, claiming many lives and mutating into various clusters such as Delta and Omicron renewing hazards of the virus and adding to pressure on health systems in many states, the Kuwaiti envoy said.
Development of vaccines rapidly renewed hope for stemming its spread in a better manner. However, the mechanism of distributing the vaccines to the states was unjust, widening the gap between advanced and developing countries amid forecast expansion of poverty and longer lasting effects of the pandemic.
Ambassador Al-Otaibi called fior coordinated efforts for international response to the pandemic where it might ensure just distribution of the vaccines and pave the way for global immunization. He also urged the international community to shoulder the humanitarian and ethical responsibility and aid the developing nations at this level.
At the national level, Kuwait has succeeded in immunizing 85 percent of its population and there has been increasing desire to get the booster jab, he said, also indicating at start of a vaccination campaign for children aged between five and 11. Abroad, Kuwait has made generous financial contributions to agencies tasked with combating the pandemic.
He reaffirmed the necessity of aiding all countries in the fight against the communicable disease and attain the objective set by the World Health Organization; vaccinating 70 percent of the world's people by the middle of 2022.
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Amir’s Letter - A Treasure
Joseph Panicker, a member of Adangapurathu family, who hailed from Puramattom, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India, was working as a maintenance engineer in Bayan Palace, where The Amir of Kuwait was residing. Eng. Joseph was involved in the electrification work related to the Bayan Palace complex. He was one of the tens of thousands of victims of the invasion and occupation of Kuwait.
Just a day before the invasion, a meeting had been arranged between the then Amir of Kuwait, HE Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, in the palace.
Joseph temporarily took charge of the electrical maintenance team of Bayan Palace.
For unknown reasons, Yasser Arafat’s visit to Kuwait was canceled and thus the meeting also.
The very next day, August 2, 1990,Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and the miserable days of Kuwait had begun.
Although the stay and travel were miserable, he was able to witness many unpleasant situations.
He was returning to the native country via Jordan to save his life from the country where gunfire and the roar of military vehicles were common.
During the long hours of waiting in the Amman Airport, Joseph decided to jot down the incidents he had witnessed.
The face of the Amir of Kuwait came to mind after the confusion of what to write. Joseph wrote a letter thanking the Amir of Kuwait who has providing food and shelter for all these days. First he had congratulated Amir of Kuwait for God’s grace and then thanked Him for the comforts and safety he and his family had experienced during their stay in Kuwait.
Before flying to Mumbai on September 20, 1990, Joseph had posted the letter in Amman airport, Jordan. About three months later after reaching his native place, an airmail arrived at the home address mentioned in the letter he had sent. In the airmail, a text of thanks was mentioned for the solidarity shown during the crisis in a letter signed on December 2, 1990, by the then Under Secretary, Ahmed Al Aradi, of Amiri Diwan, the official office of the Amir.
The reply which we received at my home town, Kerala, India reads, "The State of Kuwait will never forget your noble stance and your sincere feelings towards the people of Kuwait and their legitimate Government”.
The Amir's reply is unique, highly appreciable and extraordinary as it portrays His consideration towards expatriates and citizens.
Joseph Panicker kept this letter as a treasure and values it more than any award he has received in his life. Joseph Panicker collects scientific materials from all available sources and arranges his residence in Riggae as a small museum. He, his wife Laila, daughter Merin, and son Andrew, find the letter most valuable in their collections.
We congratulate the Amir, Council of Ministers, Members of Parliament and the people of Kuwait on their 61st National Day, which marks years of accomplishments, achieved by wise policies that gave Kuwait a unique position in everybody’s heart.
We ask God Almighty to protect the Nation of Kuwait.
God bless Kuwait.
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