The second edition of the ‘Partners for Yemen’ conference, supported by Kuwait’s International Islamic Charity Organization (IICO) alongside Kuwait’s Rahma International Society, began Saturday in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, aiming to support education in Yemen, according to Kuwait’s New Agency.
Abdulrahman Al-Mutawa, Deputy General Manager for Projects at IICO, said:”The people of Yemen are at the heart of our concerns,” “ adding “supporting education in Yemen “is not a choice but a humanitarian duty” and an investment in Yemen’s future.
Al-Mutawa said that supporting Yemen education has been a top priority for IICO, which carried out various education and humanitarian projects over the last five years worth nearly $11 million, collaborating with nine Yemeni organizations. These efforts have helped over 55,000 students inside Yemen and abroad.
Al-Mutawa acknowledged that Yemen’s educational needs still exceed current efforts. “The scattered efforts need unification, coordination, and integration, which we hope this conference and real partnerships will achieve,” he concluded.
Ghanem Al-Shaheen, Director of Programs and Projects at Rahma International, told KUNA this was the association’s second time participating after the first conference in Istanbul. He noted Kuwait’s charitable organizations and government institutions play a leading role in humanitarian support. “We have contributed a lot to Yemen, especially in education, through our ‘Tawasul’ foundation there, which runs many educational projects in cooperation with the Yemeni International Development Agency organizing the conference,” he said.
Kuwait’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Rashid Al-Saleh, said the conference reflects Kuwait’s firm commitment to providing aid globally, especially in Yemen, which faces severe humanitarian challenges. He added that Kuwait’s sponsorship and involvement in this conference demonstrate its belief in education as a pillar for community advancement.
Over two days, the conference sessions will address Yemen’s worsening humanitarian crisis, one of the world’s largest, highlighting the devastating impact of war on education, health, and the economy. Discussions will also focus on the limited international presence of Yemeni institutions, calling for new partnerships and ensuring the sustainability of humanitarian projects and efforts.