Summary: November 8, 2004: STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION BY DIRK-JAN NIEUWENHUIS, FIRST SECRETARY. SECOND COMMITTEE - Agenda item 39 (b): Strengthening of the Co-ordination of Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Assistance of the United Nations, including Special Economic Assistance to Individual Countries or Regions (New York)
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union, the Candidate Countries, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Turkey, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro and the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.
Due to the revitalization of the GA agenda, the item we are discussing today (39b Strengthening of the Co-ordination of Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Assistance of the United Nations, Including Special Economic Assistance to Individual Countries or Regions) has been deferred to the Second Committee. The EU will make general remarks on humanitarian issues in the Plenary, when we discuss item 39, on 11 November. We would like to concentrate on some issues in the context of the transition from
relief to development and briefly touch on developments in a number of countries mentioned in the SG's report or currently going through a major humanitarian crisis.
Often at the end of conflict, the humanitarian situation remains very worrying. Post-conflict countries are often confronted with massive return of displaced people, devastated social and institutional infrastructure, economic deprivation and the spread of HIV/AIDS. Moreover, the humanitarian needs in post-conflict situations tend to increase rather than decrease. Also in the aftermath of natural disasters, especially in countries that are already vulnerable, humanitarian assistance remains a
necessity for the medium term.
There are many challenges in the transition from relief to sustainable development. The EU welcomes the work done by the UNDG-ECHA working group on Transition, although we realize that more work needs to be done. In transition, as well as the relief phase, capacity building is an important element for national governments to be able to assume their responsibilities. Equally, civil society should be given the chance to develop an important role. If governments and non-government actors play
their roles, the UN-role could be limited to support and capacity building.
With support from the international community, investments need to be made in social sectors. Provision of education, health care, including prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis and job creation are prerequisites for transition from a humanitarian crisis through to recovery and sustainable development. Special attention should be given to women and vulnerable groups such as children. Throughout these efforts, ownership is crucial. Governments need to take the
lead, in a responsible, accountable and transparent manner, in rebuilding government services, law enforcement and the legal sector. Planning tools, such as the PRSP's, must be developed quickly and reflect an emphasis on the link between relief and sustainable development. It is the response to the aftermath of crises and the prevention of others that will help to ensure whether we achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
We welcome the fact that in some of the countries mentioned in the SG's report, especially in the Comoros, Mozambique, Serbia and Montenegro and Tajikistan, the humanitarian situation has improved and a successful start to engaging in development is underway. The experience and lessons learned here may benefit other countries in transition.
In other countries, including several countries not mentioned in the SG's report, humanitarian challenges remain:
In Northern Uganda, although the humanitarian situation has not deteriorated, the EU remains extremely concerned about the continuing insecurity and the large numbers of IDP's, over one and a half million, some of whom are out of the reach of much needed assistance. The suffering of large numbers of children is also a particular cause for concern. This situation is causing needs in virtually all sectors, particularly water and sanitation and health and nutrition.
The humanitarian situation in several parts of Sudan, particularly Darfur, remains very serious. Insecurity in Darfur is an overriding concern and an obstacle to providing aid and leads to incredible needs. In the course of this year, the EU has contributed generously to the humanitarian efforts in Sudan. Attention for Darfur, whilst absolutely necessary, should not detract from the severity of needs elsewhere in the country. Under the leadership of the African Union and the SRSG, and
with help from the international community, the humanitarian situation in Sudan must be improved.
A lack of security and access is also the main constraint for humanitarian aid delivery to various regions of Afghanistan. In a complex post conflict situation, this country also suffers from vulnerability to natural disasters such as drought and earthquakes. Afghanistan's humanitarian needs continue, especially for returning refugees and the internally displaced.
Whilst the humanitarian situation has improved since the end of conflict, economic growth in Angola has not yet been translated into better lives for its people as 68% of the population lives below the poverty line. Good governance, capacity building, additional resources in the crucial sectors for development and strong partnerships among all stakeholders are imperative during this transition phase. Food aid, water and sanitation and de-mining remain important needs as vulnerability
remains high. These chronic structural deficiencies need to be addressed through longer term development measures.
Despite an end to conflict in the DRC, the EU remains worried by the continued violence, especially against women, and also by the overall humanitarian situation. The enormous challenges facing the government of the DRC must be met with the help of the international community. The government should target its efforts on creating a secure environment for its population, education, health, public administration, the judicial system and job creation. The situation in the east of the country
where some 4 million people are displaced is still particularly difficult. A lack of security has compounded the suffering even further as outbreaks of sporadic violence have restricted access for humanitarian actors.
The success of the 2003 relief operation in Ethiopia can be credited to many factors including the effective early warning systems and the generous contributions by donors. In a country where only about half of the population has adequate food and access to water, further focus is needed on building capacity so as to address the core causes that lead to such vulnerability. Local capacity to respond to emergency needs is restricted and the government needs to work closely with
international donors to mitigate the suffering of the people.
A positive future for Liberia is strongly dependent on long-term peace not just in the country but also in the wider West African region. Besides a regional approach to peace in West Africa, other factors remain vital in the attempt to bolster the peace in Liberia. One challenge is a successful Demobilisation, Disarmement and Reintegration process with the emphasis on the reintegration aspect, in particularly through creating job opportunities Aiding the internally displaced is also an
important priority for Liberia. The rule of law also needs to be reestablished and human rights need to be protected. Halting the spread of HIV/AIDS, ensuring access to safe water and sanitation, intensifying agricultural production are other short and long term challenges that need to be addressed by the authorities and the international donor community.
The combined effects of HIV/AIDS, food insecurity and a weakened institutional capacity, also known as the "triple threat", weigh heavily on the social and economic situation of the people in Southern Africa. In Malawi, as mentioned in the SG's report, the food situation has improved but there is no room for complacency. National and international efforts in Malawi must focus on increased national capacity to address natural disasters, chronic malnutrition linked to poverty and HIV/AIDS
and other development challenges in the social sectors.
The EU welcomes the recent establishment of the new Transitional Nation Federal Government of Somalia. The prevailing drought, continued food insecurity as well as the challenges regarding rehabilitation and reconstruction pose a major challenge for the Transitional Nation Federal Government of Somalia. The EU stands ready to continue to provide financial and technical support to a provisional, all-inclusive, broad based government for Somalia. Years of anarchism, control by warlords,
civil strife coupled with cycles of drought and floods have resulted in serious humanitarian needs, notably in the health and nutrition sectors. Most Somali households face a high degree of chronic vulnerability as local coping mechanisms have been gradually exhausted. We will continue to address these humanitarian needs as before.
We are pleased to see that the humanitarian situation in a number of countries discussed under agenda item 39b has improved considerably. In these countries, the main focus should now lie on ensuring sustainable longer term development. The SG makes the concluding observation in his report that the General Assembly should no longer consider the situation in these particular countries under this agenda item. In a way, these countries should "graduate" from being discussed under this item. The EU
welcomes this suggestion by the SG.
For the countries still confronted with humanitarian crises we remain committed to the CAP process, to which the EU and its member states are the largest donor. The most pressing challenge in the provision of humanitarian assistance is access. National governments and the international community should work together to make sure that suffering populations can receive assistance.
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