Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Mohammed Al-Noumas yesterday announced that the ministry's Endowment General Secretariat is to provide $500,000 worth of emergency humanitarian aid to the drought and famine-stricken people of Somalia. Al-Noumas, who is also the Minister of State for Housing Affairs, told reporters that the aid will be provided to the Somali people through the International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) to support its efforts to provide emergency relief to those affected by the devastating humanitarian disaster there and to contribute to alleviating their suffering. The minister explained that the decision followed the example set by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah's initiative in immediately donating towards the appeal for aid to the stricken country. HH the Amir immediately recognized the immense magnitude of the disaster affecting the Somali people and the need to provide urgent relief to the needy and displaced, Al-Noumas added. The senior government official said that the disaster has seen a sharp rise in the number of deaths among Somali refugees in Ethiopia, particularly children, due to the health problems caused by malnutrition, adding that the aid provided by Kuwait to the Somali people confirms Kuwait's previous and continuing status as a pioneer in providing humanitarian assistance to the afflicted. Al-Noumas expressed his immense gratitude to and appreciation of HH the Amir for his generous initiative towards the Somali people, saying that this shows the ruler's tremendous humanity. The minister also thanked the various Kuwaiti agencies and individuals for their generous contributions in extending a helping hand to the people of Somalia to overcome their painful ordeal. Meanwhile, Arab Parliament Speaker Ali Al-Deqbasi of Kuwait hailed Tuesday the tireless efforts made by the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) to reduce the devastating effects of disasters in many countries around the world. In a press statement following his meeting with KRCS Chairman Barjas Hamoud Al-Barjas, Al-Deqbasi said the KRCS has become an active and leading organization in the field of international humanitarian work. During the meeting, Al-Deqbasi conveyed to KRCS Chairman, the acknowledgement of Arab Parliament to the organization's contribution to alleviate the sufferings of affected people in disaster-hit countries. The meeting also tackled the current humanitarian situation in some Arab countries and proposed means to increase pan-organization in relief work. On his part, Barges welcomed Al-Deqbasi's visit to KRCS. This is a real and strong support to KRCS and its humanitarian efforts," he said. Al-Barjas expressed his organization's readiness for cooperation and coordination with the Arab Parliament for better future for humanitarian and relief work in Arab countries.