Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will participate in the 3rd International Pledging Humanitarian Conference for Syria, which starts Tuesday in Kuwait, aiming to rally international financial support to meet the basic humanitarian needs of Syrian refugees. The ministry said in a statement, Shoukry will discuss in his speech the situations of Syrian refugees, estimated at four million refugees, as well as the big challenges faced by the Egyptian economy and infrastructure as a result of the recent deteriorations in Syria and the Arab region since 2011. The statement stressed the Egyptian stance towards the Syrian crisis, which demands an immediate halt of fights and end the state of attrition experienced by the Syrian people. The conference will be chaired by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and will be opened by Kuwait's emir, His Highness Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. According to the Kuwaiti authorities 78 states have confirmed their participation, with the UN warning that the situation has reached breaking point. "Failing to meet the required funds risks resulting in a horrifying and dangerous humanitarian catastrophe," Abdullah al-Maatuq, UN special envoy for humanitarian affair said.
