Sumario: EU Presidency Statement - Strengthening of co-ordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of UN (14 November 2005: New York)
Statement on Item 73: Strengthening of the co-ordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance, by H.E. Sir Emyr Jones Parry, Permanent Representative, United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations, on behalf of the European Union at the United Nations General Assembly Sixtieth Session
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey and Croatia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration.
Mr Chairman,
The European Union would like to thank the Secretary-General for the reports submitted for consideration under this item. They clearly demonstrate the immense challenges faced by the humanitarian community in the last year, as well as the continuing need to provide more effective and predictable humanitarian assistance. The EU would like to take this opportunity to express its condolences and solidarity with all those affected by humanitarian emergencies in the last year. We would also like to
thank all humanitarian personnel for their tireless and dedicated efforts to assist and protect vulnerable populations, often at great personal risk.
Events this year, most recently and starkly in Pakistan, have highlighted the importance of expanding and improving our capacity to respond quickly and effectively to major disasters. The challenge to us all is to sustain our response and our commitment in the aftermath of a disaster. In Pakistan, the European Union is committed to supporting the UN's renewed appeal for assistance with the ongoing tragedy as winter approaches. Similarly, the growing crisis in Southern Africa - often referred to
as the "triple threat" - demonstrates yet again the urgent need for early preventative measures, with the clear lesson that early intervention is much less costly than responding later, once needs and suffering have escalated.
Mr Chairman,
The European Union fully supports the Secretary-General's call, in his report "In Larger Freedom", for a more predictable humanitarian response, including in the areas of standby arrangements, funding and co-ordination capacity. All of these elements are mutually reinforcing and must be pursued together.
In terms of standby capacity, the EU values existing mechanisms such as the UN Disaster Assessment and Co-ordination teams (UNDAC), as well as the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG). But the EU also attaches great importance in terms of developing and sustaining disaster risk reduction, preparedness and response capacity at all levels. Experience has shown that more lives are saved, in the aftermath of a disaster, when response teams can deploy immediately, especially at
the local and national levels. We recognise that the rapid response capacity of the international community still fails people in need of urgent assistance and, therefore, call for enhanced support to the UN in its efforts to strengthen its response.
On funding capacity, we have been given a clear mandate from the Economic and Social Council, and from World leaders at the September UN Summit, to improve the existing UN Central Emergency Revolving Fund, or the CERF. We welcome the Secretary-General's report on the proposed modalities for an upgraded CERF, which should enable quicker and more effective responses to humanitarian emergencies, and hope that it will become operational early in 2006. We also welcome the announcement of pledges, in
principle, towards an upgraded CERF and invite further voluntary contributions to the fund. From the EU's perspective, it is essential that the fund's accountability structures work retro-actively in order to facilitate one of the primary objectives of the upgraded CERF - to respond immediately to live-saving needs. An upgraded CERF should provide a useful addition to existing fast-track disbursement procedures, such as those provided by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office
(ECHO).
The persistent under-funding of some emergencies, particularly in Africa, is especially concerning. The proposal that the upgraded CERF would address critical humanitarian needs in under-funded emergencies is therefore welcome. The piloting of Common Humanitarian Funds in Sudan and the DRC also provide an opportunity to strengthen the coherence and timeliness of funding at the country level.
On co-ordination capacity, often a complex challenge, the response to recent disasters has shown that there is always room for improvement. In this context, one particular aspect to which the EU attaches great importance is the quality of Humanitarian Co-ordinators. Further efforts must be made to improve this critical function, especially in terms of training and support, and the right incentives must also be provided to attract the best people for the job. Further efforts must also be made in
order to improve the quality of, and therefore donor confidence in, the UN Consolidated Appeals Process. The CAP process must provide for a more inclusive and better co-ordinated assessment of need - and the projects contained therein must be better prioritised, based on an agreed strategic framework such as the Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP).
As donor governments, we also recognise that we need to enhance co-ordination amongst ourselves. That is why we are committed to the Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative. This provides an unparalleled opportunity to promote innovation and good practice in the way in which aid is provided, and to enhance the predictability, adequacy and flexibility of humanitarian financing.
Mr Chairman,
Lessons learned are also an important part of ensuring a more effective and predictable humanitarian response. In this respect, the European Union welcomes the Humanitarian Response Review. This has helped identify a number of gaps and weaknesses in the international response system, and we are pleased that the recommendations are now being actively pursued. In particular, the EU welcomes work already underway in identifying cluster, or sectoral, leads. We believe this is especially important
in terms of ensuring sectoral capacity and leadership.
The cluster system presents an opportunity to define benchmarks for the speed, scale and quality of response. We welcome the work that the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and others are doing to strengthen the evidence base that we need to adequately plan, monitor and evaluate humanitarian response, and to inform resource allocation.
There are also a number of lessons to be learned in the use and co-ordination of military and civil defence assets. In some cases, the logistical support and expertise associated with such assets can prove invaluable in terms transporting relief assistance and in reaching remote and vulnerable communities. However, at all times, the use of such assets must be conducted in accordance with the Oslo and MCDA guidelines and must ensure respect for humanitarian principles and the relevant provisions
of international law.
The European Union also attaches great importance to disaster risk reduction, early warning and preparedness. To this end, the EU urges States to implement the priorities set out in the Hyogo Framework for Action, as well as to incorporate disaster reduction efforts into sustainable development and poverty reduction strategies. Efforts must also be made to strengthen the capacity of disaster-prone developing countries in disaster mitigation, preparedness and response, as well as in
post-disaster recovery. The EU welcomes the reform of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. Early warning mechanisms must also be improved and expanded, as a matter of priority, and we welcome conclusions from the UN World Summit in this regard.
Mr Chairman,
The European Union fully accepts the need to make the international humanitarian response system more predictable and effective, including through lessons learned and the implementation of existing commitments. The EU is willing to play its part, not only in responding to emergencies as they occur but also in strengthening the international community's capacity to respond. But these efforts will be in vain, if we cannot ensure better respect for international humanitarian law as well as
reliable access and protection for civilians in need and for humanitarian workers. We strongly condemn attacks and acts of violence on humanitarian workers, which not only jeopardise their safety but also the sustainability of relief operations. Such incidents must be immediately and effectively investigated and the perpetrators of such acts brought to justice.
Finally, Mr Chairman,
This past year, in particular, has posed many challenges to the humanitarian community. We have not always risen to the challenge. We must therefore continue our efforts to improve the effectiveness and predictability of humanitarian response. The European Union is determined to play its part. Thank you.
* Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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