New government entity to oversee all charity activities; Humanitarian law to be ready in 2-3 weeks
KUWAIT: Kuwait is launching a three-day donation campaign starting Tuesday, followed by the organization of an air bridge to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to Assistant Foreign Minister for Development and International Cooperation Hamad Suleiman Al-Mashaan.
Speaking to the press on the sidelines of Peru’s National Day celebration on Sunday, Al-Mashaan said charitable associations across the country will collect funds for the Gaza aid campaign, which will be entirely allocated to the purchase of relief materials through Kuwait Flour Mills Company. “All donations will go toward essential supplies, procured from a trusted local producer with the capacity to meet immediate needs,” he said.
Once the donations are collected, the Ministry of Defense — specifically the Kuwait Air Force — will coordinate the transportation of aid using a Kuwaiti military aircraft. Shipments will be sent via two routes: to Al-Arish in Egypt, where they will be handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent in coordination with the Kuwait Red Crescent Society, and to Jordan for further delivery to Gaza.
Ambassador Hamad Al-Mashaan
Unified charity system
Al-Mashaan also noted that Kuwait is in the final stages of approving a comprehensive law to regulate charitable work and strengthen oversight over the sector. A key feature of the law is the creation of a governmental ‘center’, dedicated to humanitarian work, serving as a unified authority overseeing all aspects of charitable activities.
The center will oversee the registration of charity associations, organize relief campaigns, monitor international donations, and issue all necessary approvals — streamlining processes and reducing the need for associations to navigate multiple government entities.
The new law, which has been developed over seven high-level committee meetings chaired by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, is currently under legal review. It includes frameworks to regulate the operation of charitable societies and foundations, set standards for donation collection, and bring all charitable entities under the umbrella of the new center.
Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef has tasked Minister of Justice Nasser Al-Sumait with coordinating with the Fatwa and Legislation Department before the law is submitted to the Legal Committee for final approval. “We expect the law to be finalized within two to three weeks,” Al-Mashaan said. “However, implementing the executive regulations and launching the center will take more time and effort, especially with the transfer of staff from the Ministry of Social Affairs.”
He emphasized that in Kuwait’s charitable work, domestic needs will take precedence, followed by support for international causes. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is playing a leading role in this process, particularly in monitoring international donations and ensuring accountability for overseas projects.
