KUWAIT CITY: The Japanese Gov. of Miyagi Yoshihiro Murai has passed on his country’s thanks to Kuwait for an oil-related aid package worth around $524 million donated in the aftermath of the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
The governor’s expression of gratitude came during an official visit to Miyagi by the Kuwaiti ambassador to Tokyo, Sami Al-Zamanan, the Kuwait News Agency reported on Tuesday.
The donation had helped to speed up reconstruction work after the disaster, Murai said.
He noted that his province had used part of its share to support the establishment of a partnership fund for medical studies, university of medicine, and a new building for the university’s hospital, all of which had helped address a shortage in medical staff in the governorate and neighboring areas.
Al-Zamanan said his visit underlined the continued strength of Kuwaiti-Japanese relations after 62 years of diplomatic ties.
On the donation, the envoy pointed out that it had been made by the late Emir of Kuwait Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, partly in appreciation of Japan’s position during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
And Kuwait was keen to further bolster relations between the two countries, Al-Zamanan added.
Japan repeats thanks to Kuwait for aid package following 2011 quake, tsunami
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Japan repeats thanks to Kuwait for aid package following 2011 quake, tsunami
- Donation worth $524m helped speed up reconstruction after disaster: Gov. of Miyagi
- Kuwaiti envoy reiterates his country’s keenness to further bolster bilateral relations
Syrian government says it controls prison in Raqqa with Daesh-linked detainees
- Prison holds detainees linked to Daesh, and witnessed clashes in its vicinity between advancing Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters
Syria’s Interior Ministry said on Friday it had taken over Al-Aktan prison in the city of Raqqa in northeastern Syria, a facility that was formerly under the control of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The prison has been holding detainees linked to the militant group Daesh, and witnessed clashes in its vicinity this week between advancing Syrian government forces and the SDF.
It was not immediately clear how many Daesh detainees remain in Al-Aktan prison as the US military has started transferring up to 7,000 prisoners linked to the militant Islamist group from Syrian jails to neighboring Iraq. US officials say the detainees are citizens of many countries, including in Europe.
“Specialized teams were formed from the counter-terrorism department and other relevant authorities to take over the tasks of guarding and securing the prison and controlling the security situation inside it,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
Under a sweeping integration deal agreed on Sunday, responsibility for prisons housing Daesh detainees was meant to be transferred to the Syrian government.
The SDF said on Monday it was battling Syrian government forces near Al-Aktan and that the seizure of the prison by the government forces “could have serious security repercussions that threaten stability and pave the way for a return to chaos and terrorism.”
The US transfer of Daesh prisoners follows the rapid collapse of Kurdish-led forces in northeast Syria. Concerns over prison security intensified after the escape on Tuesday of roughly 200 low-level Daesh fighters from Syria’s Shaddadi prison. Syrian government forces later recaptured many of them.
