CAIRO, March 5 (KUNA) -- A number of Egyptian officials and experts expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for donating one million US dollars to ferry victims.

In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Secretary-General of the Kuwaiti-Egyptian Friendship Committee Nabil Al-Dardiri praised the deep and historic relationships between Kuwait and Egypt, noting that the Amiri donation asserts the excellent relationships between the people of Kuwait and Egypt.

Vice President of an Egyptian charity organization Mohsen Atef told KUNA that Kuwait is known for its generous donations and supportive stands toward Egypt in the times of need, noting that such generosity extend deep in the roots of Al-Sabah family and the people of Kuwait.

Executive Director of Arab Auditors Union Hamdi Abdulfattah said the donation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad asserts the solidarity and brotherhood between Kuwait and Egypt, noting that the donation will ease the hardships of ferry victims and their families.

Meanwhile, Vice President of Al-Sadat Academy for Administrative Sciences Dr. Shereef Qassem told KUNA that Kuwait is known for its supportive stands toward Egypt in the time of hardship, as Egypt never abandoned Kuwait in the time of need and has always supported Kuwaiti issues.

Qassem also praised the projects of the Kuwait Fund for Arab and Economic Development in Egypt, which contribute in the development of the country.

The donation was part of a resolution issued today during a Ministerial Council meeting based upon the directions of the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad.

Kuwaiti Deputy Premier and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Mohammad Daifallah Sharar said after the ministerial session that the donation is considered as an expression of solidarity from the people of Kuwait to the ferry victims.

The ferry, Salam 98, sank in the Red Sea with 1,400 passengers onboard; only 389 of them survived the tragic incident. The majority of the victims were Egyptian citizens working and living with their families in the gulf countries.

By Mohammad Hassan