A Palestinian refugee was pronounced dead in Kuwait after contracting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), reported Palestinian sources.

 The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said Basem Jibril Awad, 45, died of the fatal virus a few days earlier.

The Ministry added that Awad is the first coronavirus victim among the Palestinian refugee community in Kuwait.

According to the ministry’s database, over 70 Palestinian refugees living abroad have succumbed to the virus so far. More than 1,300 have contracted the disease.