Introduction
World peace has been an agenda for decades. However, efforts have to be put in place to try and prevent the emergence of wars, ending those that are ongoing and provide humanitarian aid to those who have been affected by these wars. The United Nations Security Council, arguably the most powerful world organization, has been given the mandate to ensure that peace prevails everywhere. It consists of five permanent member countries and ten non-permanent members who are elected to serve for a two-year term. According to Vreeland and Dreher (2014, 7) the permanent member states wield 98% of the voting power, attributable to their veto powers. Kuwait and Netherlands, two countries that have enjoyed good relations over the past, have recently been voted in and are expected to join the council in 2018. Having close ties with other member states is vital in pushing for an agenda within the security council. This paper looks at how Kuwait and Netherlands have provided humanitarian aid and how they could collaborate within the Security Council to handle these issues.

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Offering Humanitarian Aid
Kuwait, a small Middle East country that forms part of the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC), has been lauded for its impact on the humanitarian aid front. Kuwait’s focus on humanitarian aid is considered one of the country’s main pillars as it tries to explore international diplomacy, in the process becoming allies with many nations (Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations 2017). Under the leadership of His Highness, the Amir, the country has increased its humanitarian donations, earning itself the title of a ‘Center for Humanitarian Aid’. In 2014, the Amir was named as the humanitarian leader of the year (United Nations 2014). At the moment, Kuwait is the highest contributor of humanitarian aid among the GCC and ranks sixth globally in terms of donations with respect to its GDP. In most crises, Kuwait is usually the first nation to respond and offer its help.

Recently, Kuwait’s impact in providing humanitarian aid has been felt from the help afforded to its neighboring country Syria. In Syria, the conflict brought by the Islamic State has been described as a movement that is against the Assad regime, leading to the eruption of a civil war. In this war, Kuwait also became a target of a bombing at the Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq Mosque, claiming the lives of 27 while 227 individuals sustained injuries (Baxter 2016, 128). However, this has not deterred Kuwait from offering help. It has also been providing aid in the form of food, medical care, and clean water. In the recent past, Kuwait has also continued to seek for more funds to aid in the Syrian crisis to the extent of hosting a couple of pledging conferences that have raised billions of dollars (United Nations 2014). Up until 2016, Kuwait had provided humanitarian aid worth around $360 million to the Syria and Iraqi conflicts. Recently, Kuwait signed a landmark deal with UNHCR worth approximately $10 million dollars that would see Kuwait provide humanitarian support to Syrian refugees living in Iraq (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 2017). Since the conflict started in 2011, there are more than five million refugees who have fled Syria, with more than 64,000 being accommodated in Netherlands.

Still in the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestine conflict has destabilized the peace of the region as well as impacted negatively on the economic and social welfare of the people. According to the Council on Foreign Relations (2017), there was an estimated 6000 airstrikes by Israel during the 50-day war of 2014 that claimed the lives of more than 2400 individuals and displacing many more. Similarly, Kuwait’s humanitarian aid contribution has been immense. In the earlier years, 2009, Kuwait donated around $34 million for the United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to get it running. In the recent wave of clashes, Kuwait donated a total $45 million to the URNWA that aimed at providing aid for Palestine refugees living in Syria (United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees 2016). Netherland’s contribution to the Palestines has been through financing and implementation of humanitarian projects such as the provision of electricity through solar panel installations.

In Myanmar, an estimated 607,000 individuals have resorted to finding refuge in neighboring Bangladesh after violence broke out and villages were burnt down in Rakhine State. The treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority has been regarded as a means of ‘ethnic cleansing’ by the country’s military and militia groups, given the tense relationship that had existed between the government and the unrecognized minority group (Safi 2017). As expected, Kuwait donated $1.5 million worth of humanitarian aid to help the UNHCR to deal with the ever increasing number of refugees. In this crisis, Netherlands also came up with two humanitarian aid packages worth €1 million each for both the internally displaced and the refugees in Bangladesh. Access to aid within Myanmar has, however, been frustrated by government authorities raising concerns over its commitment to end the crisis.

As members of the UNSC, Kuwait and Netherlands will not only be charged with providing humanitarian aid, but also with the responsibility of finding and enforcing recommendations to resolve these human conflicts. Given its close links with the International Criminal Court as well as the position as the chair of the Sanctions Committee, Netherlands could use these as a way of enforcing some of the recommendations arrived at. Vreeland and Dreher (2014, 10) posit that for sanctions to work, they should be implemented collectively by all countries. Netherland’s close association with Kuwait, one of the highest contributors to humanitarian aid, is also expected to strengthen their position within the UNSC.

The Myanmar crisis is still under investigation as to whether it fits the description of a genocide. Still, the atrocities that have been conducted need to be addressed by bringing to account those responsible for the violence through the ICC. It has also been widely recommended by many delegates that the refugees be allowed to return home as the root cause of the conflict is being addressed (United Nations Security Council 2017). In the Palestine case, Israel has been found to be acting illegally by occupying and developing Palestine’s territory. With the two-state recommendation and commitment to the Arab Peace Agreement being recommended as a permanent solution, there still exist implementation hurdles. Using the Netherland’s sanctions committee and Kuwait’s influence in Middle East, pressure could be piled on Israel.

On international terrorism, especially the threats from ISIL, these two countries could use their links to help in ending the organization. Kuwait has always been actively participating in offering humanitarian aid to the victims while hosting US troops. Netherlands has also been an active participant of the anti-ISIL coalition since 2014, substantially reducing the regions that are under the control of the terrorist group (Government of Netherlands 2016). Both countries were in support of US military action in ISIL in Syria, hence their addition to the council represents greater strength in advocating for a terrorists-free world.

Conclusion
The role of the UN Security Council in maintaining peace and security globally cannot simply be brushed aside. As Kuwait and Netherlands prepare to join the council for a two-and one-year term respectively, it is important that they build on their political ties to strengthen the existing strong economic relations. This includes uniting on issues such as solutions for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Syrian conflicts, and the Myanmar atrocities. All in all, building these international relations strengthens a country’s position in dealing with the UN Security Council issues which are decided by votes.

    References
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