KUWAIT/AMMAN: A second plane carrying humanitarian aid from Kuwait has arrived at Marka Military Airport in Jordan, bringing 10 tons of essential food supplies for the Gaza Strip. The aid flight departed from Abdullah Al-Mubarak Airbase in Kuwait and was organized by the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society in coordination with Kuwait’s Ministries of Social Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Defense, with support from the Kuwaiti Air Force.

This follows Kuwait’s first relief flight to Gaza on Sunday, which delivered 10 tons of food supplies as part of a new airlift campaign aimed at easing the severe humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory. That flight headed to Al-Arish International Airport in Egypt, where aid will be transferred safely into Gaza.

Khaled Al-Mughamis, chairman of the Kuwaiti Red Crescent, told KUNA before the second flight that the airlift reflected Kuwait’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian support. He said:

“Launching this second aid flight from the second Kuwaiti humanitarian airlift for our Palestinian brothers reflects Kuwait’s deeply rooted humanitarian approach — leadership, government, and people alike — in supporting afflicted peoples and easing their suffering.”

The shipment was prepared with supplies from the Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakeries Company to ensure quality, he added. Officials are working closely with the Kuwaiti embassy in Jordan, the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization, and the Palestinian Red Crescent to prioritize aid distribution according to need. Arrangements are underway for further flights as part of Kuwait’s second humanitarian airlift to Gaza, said Al-Mughamis, who thanked donors and official bodies for facilitating and expediting the aid.

“The ‘Fazaa for Gaza’ campaign embodies what the people of Kuwait — leaders and citizens — have been built upon: standing firmly with our brothers and sisters, inspired by Kuwait’s historic role as a regional and global center for humanitarian work,” he said.

Kuwait’s campaign comes as Gaza faces catastrophic conditions. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 61,599 Palestinians have been killed in the Zionist entity’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023. This includes 227 who died from starvation — 103 of them children. The ministry also noted that 31 Palestinians were killed and over 388 injured while trying to get humanitarian aid in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed while seeking aid to 1,838, with over 13,409 others wounded since May 27.

Earlier this week, Kuwait’s Ministry of Social Affairs announced that a nationwide donation campaign had raised KD 11.5 million. Funds are being used to purchase food and other essentials through the Kuwait Flour Mills Company, with the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society overseeing procurement. — Agencies

KUWAIT: All expatriates living in Kuwait can bring their extended families on a visit visa to Kuwait as the salary requirement has been abolished, a top interior ministry official has said, as Kuwait eases restrictions for foreign visitors and tourists. The validity of the family visas however remains just one month, Director of Electronic Services at the Department of Residency Affairs Col Abdulaziz Al-Kandari told state-run Kuwait Television late on Monday.

According to new regulations, family visas have also been extended to include up to fourth-degree relatives and third-degree relatives through marriage, he said. In the past, family visas were limited to almost only spouses and children in addition to parents. Col Kandari said that family and other types of visas can now be obtained through online application at the newly-established Kuwaitvisa platform and application. Kandari said that if the application is complete, the visa will be issued within just five minutes.

In addition, Kuwait has also abolished the requirement that visitors to Kuwait must use Kuwaiti carriers, either Kuwait Airways or Al-Jazeera Airways. “All types of visitors can now come by sea, land or air using any carrier” Kandari said. The official said that four types of visas are issued on Kuwaitvisa platform or application; tourist, family, business and governmental.

As for tourist visas, Kandari said visitors are divided into four categories. The first covers nationals of 53 mostly Western countries based on the strength of their passport and income.

These countries include about 41 European countries including Turkey, eight Asian nations; Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. In addition to the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Nationals of those countries are issued all types of tourist visas on arrival and online through the platform, said Kandari, who advised applicants to apply online to avoid negative security screening which could result in turning them back. This category needs to fulfill no condition.

The second categories include foreign residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, those who have valid residency permits in the United States, Canada, Britain and those who have the Schengen visa to Europe. As for the second category, they must hold “medium to high professions” but they are not required to submit a salary certificate or a bank account, Kandari stressed, although a decision by the interior minister issued on Sunday removed the profession requirement.

However, to avoid disappointment, applicants should apply online by uploading their passport copy, a personal picture, a confirmed air ticket and a hotel reservation. Members of these two categories can apply for a single entry visa valid for one month, two months and three months or a multiple entry visa for three months, six months and one year provided that each single stay does not exceed one month, Col Kandari said.

He said that the third category, which covers people not included in the first two categories, is currently under consideration, adding that members of this group must produce a bank account to prove they are financially capable. The fourth category includes people who can visit Kuwait to attend certain sports and entertainment events who can apply at the time of the event, he said. As for business visas, any local company can apply to bring any foreign business partner or visitor, he said. Col Kandari said fees on visas depend on each nationality.