The Fourth Session of the High-Level Strategic Dialogue between the State of Kuwait and the International Committee of the Red Cross was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday. Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Sheikh Jarrah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah chaired the Kuwaiti side, while President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric led the Committee's delegation in the dialogue. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the dialogue addressed the strategic and historical partnership between the State of Kuwait and the International Committee of the Red Cross, spanning more than three decades, which represents a model of international humanitarian cooperation and alignment of visions regarding the necessity of respecting the principles of international humanitarian law and protecting civilians during conflicts. During the dialogue, the pivotal role of the International Committee in following up on the file of Kuwaiti prisoners and missing persons over the past decades was reviewed, as well as strengthening joint work regarding the implementation of Security Council Resolution (2474) concerning missing persons in armed conflicts, which was presented by the State of Kuwait during its membership in the Security Council for the period 2018-2019. The strategic dialogue witnessed the signing of a joint declaration between the State of Kuwait and the Committee issued from the dialogue proceedings, in addition to the signing of a grant agreement from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to the International Committee of the Red Cross to finance a project providing health services and clean water in the Federal

Republic of Somalia. Meanwhile, the Kuwait Red Crescent Society signed a grant agreement with the Red Cross Committee valued at $2 million to support the sustainable implementation of a program to enhance access to healthcare for vulnerable communities in the Republic of Sudan, through sending multiple aid shipments on Kuwaiti relief aircraft loaded with food supplies, tents, and essential materials to support displaced persons and families affected by the humanitarian crisis.