15 million dinars raised as third national debtors campaign sets new record

The third national campaign for debtors, launched by the Ministry of Social Affairs, has emerged as a leading example of institutional humanitarian work in Kuwait, embodying the highest values of social and human solidarity while achieving record-breaking results in donations and beneficiary reach.

The campaign translated public trust in state institutions into tangible outcomes, contributing to easing the financial burden on thousands of families and reinforcing social stability through a transparent and well-coordinated framework that brought together government bodies and civil society institutions, reports Al-Rai daily.

In remarks to Al-Akhbar Channel on Kuwait Television, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs Dr. Khaled Al-Ajmi described the campaign as an exceptional success, noting that donations exceeded 15 million dinars — the highest amount recorded compared to the two previous campaigns.

He said this achievement reflects the deep-rooted culture of charitable giving and social solidarity within Kuwaiti society.

Dr. Al-Ajmi explained that the campaign received broad support from civil society organizations, the private sector, individual donors, and government entities, emphasizing that this collective effort produced meaningful and sustainable results.

He described the initiative as a model for transparent institutional humanitarian work built on effective intergovernmental cooperation.

According to Al-Ajmi, the campaign succeeded — across four successive phases—in settling the debts of 2,635 citizens and closing more than 4,000 enforcement cases at the Ministry of Justice. He stressed that the primary objective was to help beneficiaries fully exit the cycle of financial distress and resume normal family and social life without burdens that undermine stability.

He detailed that the first phase targeted citizens with debts not exceeding 5,000 dinars, followed by a second phase covering debts up to 10,000 dinars. The third phase raised the ceiling to 15,000 dinars, while the fourth phase increased it to 16,500 dinars, based on the volume of available donations.

Dr. Al-Ajmi noted that the campaign relied on joint Sharia and technical committees comprising representatives from the Ministries of Interior, Islamic Affairs, Justice, and Social Affairs, in addition to Zakat House and the General Secretariat of Endowments.

These committees worked for more than nine months to establish strict criteria distinguishing genuine debtors, ensuring that donations reached eligible beneficiaries with fairness and integrity.

He added that more than 9,000 applications were received and subjected to thorough review, auditing, and field research, commending the committees for their sustained efforts despite the significant demands of time and labor.

Special priority, he said, was given to inmates of correctional institutions in non-criminal financial cases, reflecting the campaign’s humanitarian dimension and its aim of family reunification, in accordance with approved regulations.

Addressing challenges, Al-Ajmi said the primary difficulty lay in verifying eligibility to safeguard donors’ funds, noting that the Sharia and technical committees played a pivotal role in ensuring justice and transparency.

He also confirmed that beneficiaries of previous campaigns were excluded to prevent duplication and expand the scope of assistance.

He concluded by emphasizing that the Ministry’s role extends beyond debt settlement to include raising financial awareness among beneficiaries and encouraging better financial management.