A/62/PV.55 General Assembly

In accordance with General Assembly resolution 49/2 of 19 October 1994, I now call on the observer for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

I speak here today on the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance, an issue of great significance to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). But, before I go into my prepared remarks, let me extend the deep condolences of the International Federation, all of our members’ national societies, Red Cross and Red Crescent, to the people of Bangladesh, who are in these days very busy responding to the terrible tragedy of the cyclone that affected their country last week. I wish to assure the Bangladesh Government of our deep commitment to continue to do everything we can as the International Federation to mobilize the appropriate resources to assist the Bangladesh Red Crescent in the relief efforts, in recovery and in risk reduction efforts going forward, and of course in full coordination with the Bangladesh Government and United Nations agencies and other humanitarian actors. As we have been reminded through the course of yesterday’s debate and this morning’s, natural disasters of all kinds affect peoples around the world every day. This debate today is actually about the future of millions of vulnerable people throughout the world. I will focus some of my comments on the way environmental degradation and climate change are impacting humanitarian assistance, and on the implications for Governments and humanitarian organizations alike. We welcome the increased attention of the international community to climate change and we applaud the determination of the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly in bringing about intergovernmental dialogue within the United Nations system on what may be one of today’s greatest global challenges. It is also a challenge the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) will address at the thirtieth international conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent next week in Geneva. The Secretary-General’s speech at the launching of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in Valencia last week was a clear call to action and highlights the urgency of a consolidation of political will. Much relevant background is in his report on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, which confirms the dramatic increase in disasters over the past 20 years. Statistics also point to a dramatic increase in localized, small-scale disasters affecting communities of under 25,000 people. We are all well aware of the need to invest in disaster preparedness, and many speakers in this debate have already made that point. Let me return to the situation in Bangladesh to illustrate it. The Bangladesh Red Crescent, supported by the International Federation, had been investing in preparedness and early warning measures for more than 20 years before Cyclone Sidr hit the country. That demonstrates what can be done. The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society worked with national authorities to ensure that those preparedness efforts were very effective. Despite that, of course, there has been a terrible loss of life and of livelihood, and we are now desperately working with people there to recover their lives and dignity. We welcome the acknowledgment of that work and the endorsement of the International Federation’s emergency appeal by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. John Holmes, at his press conference on 16 November. The International Federation believes that an increased emphasis on vulnerability and risk reduction will reduce the impact of such disasters. Our experience shows that investing in risk reduction measures can save thousands of lives and billions of dollars every year, and at a fraction of the cost of disaster response. We are working with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies at one level and with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee to deliver a more risk-informed humanitarian action. We call on all Governments to give new priority to risk reduction measures, and on donor Governments to raise significantly their support for that action. The increased number of smaller disasters points to the need to enhance disaster preparedness and response capacity at the local and national levels. That encompasses effective national disaster management mechanisms that include a Red Cross or Red Crescent society. Many countries have established such mechanisms, and good examples of their effectiveness are available every week, as demonstrated in Bangladesh. A national society provides a unique bridge linking Government capacity and policy to the efforts of ordinary people in small villages and communities across the country. A national society works as an auxiliary to its national authorities in the humanitarian field and is present throughout the country and at the grassroots, thanks to its volunteer base in many communities. The IFRC calls on Governments to enhance partnerships with their National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society to improve national and local disaster preparedness, risk reduction and response capacities. Another vital component of national disaster preparedness is legal preparedness. The IFRC’s International Disaster Response Laws, Rules And Principles Programme has been developed to help Governments improve their regulatory frameworks for those disasters that require international humanitarian assistance. Well-functioning legal and policy frameworks can minimize bureaucratic barriers and maximize the quality and coordination of international aid. Over the past 18 months, the International Federation has conducted a multi-stakeholder consultation involving over 140 States, national societies, United Nations agencies and non- governmental organizations on how legal issues emerging in international response to non-conflict disasters can be more adequately addressed at the national level. The consultation process has resulted in the formulation of important recommendations for strengthening legal preparedness at the national level, including draft guidelines for strengthening national legal preparedness. That will also be discussed at the thirtieth international conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent next week in Geneva. Many local and national disasters do not receive sufficient attention or assistance from the international community. IFRC has therefore significantly scaled up and improved its use of its own Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). The Fund delivers start-up cash to Red Cross and Red Crescent societies within 24 hours of a disaster to ensure life-saving early action. Financial support from DREF, for instance, to the Mozambique Red Cross has enabled it to quickly respond to neglected, small-scale disasters, such as drought and cholera, as well as to better-known disasters, such as this year’s floods. The International Federation relies on donor support to strengthen its support of local and national response to small-scale disasters. The Silent Emergencies Fund of the Netherlands Government and the Netherlands Red Cross is an excellent example of possible funding partnerships and good humanitarian donorship in that field. Although I have focused on climate-related disasters, we also continue to respond to industrial disasters. The inclusion in this debate of the agenda item relevant to the Chernobyl disaster is an important reminder of just that need. Since 1990, the IFRC, together with the national societies of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia, have been implementing the Chernobyl Humanitarian Assistance and Rehabilitation Programme (CHARP) to address the basic needs of those living in the area affected by the Chernobyl disaster. After 17 years, CHARP has accumulated unique practical experience in how to support affected populations and establish early detection, which can be used in preparing and responding to future industrial accidents and disasters. However, despite considerable contributions from the Irish Government and the Japanese Red Cross, our appeal for 2008-2009 remains seriously underfunded. The IFRC calls on Governments to support the human development activities undertaken by national societies, including those to be outlined by the United Nations action plan for Chernobyl recovery to 2016. The IFRC also calls on Governments to sustain their political will and engagement in the tripartite ministerial process. The IFRC is determined to reduce the number of deaths, injuries, illnesses and overall impact from disasters, diseases and public health emergencies. We are committed to coordinating with the United Nations and all relevant stakeholders in our humanitarian action and to supporting local and national initiatives. On the occasion of this important debate, I would like to remind us all that this requires better preparedness and contingency planning, more flexible funding, an increased focus on risk reduction at the community level and upward, and a readiness to effectively address the humanitarian consequences of climate change.

In accordance with General Assembly resolution 47/4 of 16 October 1992, I now call on the observer of the International Organization for Migration.

In accordance with General Assembly resolution 48/265 of 24 August 1994, I now call on the observer for the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Allow me to express my sincere thanks, on behalf on the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta, for the opportunity to take the floor and present the views of the Order on the strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations. Also, on behalf of the Order, I extend our condolences to the people of Bangladesh on the great harm done by the recent cyclone. They remain in our thoughts. In the past year, large-scale natural disasters alone affected 143 million people and resulted in more than 23,000 deaths. Of course, natural disasters are not the only tragedies that require an emergency humanitarian response. The Order is pleased that the Central Emergency Respond Fund (CERF) continues to make progress towards its objective of improving field- level coordination and further strengthening the humanitarian response of the United Nations in often underfunded crises. The Order of Malta fully recognizes the need for coordination in the field and the pre-eminent role that mechanisms like CERF and United Nations agencies can play in that respect. However, the Order believes that management and funding should not be overly centralized. The Order of Malta, with its more than 80,000 dedicated volunteers working in 120 countries, works actively in partnership with United Nations agencies, States and local and international non-governmental organizations to further strengthen a synchronized response to humanitarian challenges. For example, in Burkina Faso, serious flooding at the beginning of September killed or injured dozens of people, displaced 28,000 and washed away vast agricultural lands. At the request of the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Order in Burkina Faso provided community tents, camp beds and blankets. Also, emergency and ambulance corps, set up by the Order’s French Association, helped to transport victims to the nearest hospital structures. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Order of Malta, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), launched a comprehensive food distribution programme that provides approximately 5,000 internally displaced families from the community of Ninja in Bakavu in the Kivu province with 368 tons of food. Safety for the Order’s personnel during the distributions was ensured by local administration and military authorities. In the case of an emergency situation, it is imperative for humanitarian assistance not only to provide immediate relief to victims, but to develop long-term support systems. The areas affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster are one case in which that transition is vital, and it is there that the Order has demonstrated its ability to broaden its role from immediate relief to long-term development. Immediately following the tsunami, the Order of Malta, in close cooperation with local partner organizations, was in South India providing emergency relief in the form of clothing, shelter, food and medical aid for flood victims and, in parallel, assessing projects for the reconstruction phase. As the Secretary-General’s report mentions, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Indian States affected by the tsunami is one of the highest in the country. In the Tamil Nadu region, the Order employed its experience with the virus to start a comprehensive prevention project in 33 villages, and then expanded its commitment to fighting the infection. In addition to learning how to prevent and control further transmission of the disease, people learn how to live with the disease and affected family members receive training on extended home-based care and support. Projects with timetables stretching far into the future are planned and executed in close consultation with national authorities, ensuring the Order’s lasting and meaningful presence in an area. The Order always strives to accomplish two goals in the execution of its humanitarian work. First, it seeks to place local non-governmental organizations at the centre of the relief effort and the training of local staff at the core of many of its projects. Secondly, the Order strongly believes that a long-term commitment is necessary to achieving a lasting impact on the community. That is exemplified in our support to the Palestinian people. The Order of Malta, for 17 years, has operated the Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem- Palestine, where more than 36,000 healthy children have been delivered. Those works are often carried out under difficult and dangerous conditions. The report of the Secretary-General on the issue states that the safety of humanitarian and United Nations personnel remains precarious. Significant measures have been taken to improve the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers, but they continue to be victims of physical attacks, threats and robberies. They are often the first to respond to crises in the most unsafe regions, and the last to remain – long after financial resources ebb. The current numbers are more than just statistics to the Order of Malta, which last year lost 29-year-old Dr. Ezmeray Azizi, who was killed in an ambush in North-West Afghanistan, along with a UNICEF colleague. The Order stands with the Secretary-General in his appeal to Member States to fulfil their obligation under the Charter of the United Nations to ensure the safety of all humanitarian aid workers. It is only with the full commitment and cooperation of all Member States that meaningful steps to enhance security for humanitarian workers can be achieved. The Order of Malta’s humanitarian principles, neutrality, impartiality and independence provide the credentials to continue delivery and to improve its effectiveness in the provision of humanitarian relief and development. Allow me to assure the Assembly that the Order is responding daily to the challenges that humanitarian work presents, and we will continue to closely follow the leadership and initiatives of the United Nations and its agencies.

In accordance with General Assembly resolution 45/6 of 16 October 1990, I now call on the observer of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is pleased to address the Assembly on the subject of humanitarian coordination, particularly in connection with armed conflicts and other situations of violence. The humanitarian world has evolved rapidly over the past few years as more and more players enter the arena, often with different objectives, operating standards and activities. The humanitarian bodies within the United Nations have embarked on a process of reform. The main donor Governments have also begun a process of collective reflection. Foreign military assistance is increasingly present in humanitarian crises, and the role of secular and religious non-governmental organizations, private companies and other players is growing as well. In that constantly changing environment, the ICRC intends to remain the benchmark organization for neutral, independent and strictly humanitarian action and for international humanitarian law, both through its action on the ground and in its dialogue with beneficiaries, Governments, donors, parties to conflicts and other stakeholders. Thanks to its active presence worldwide, the ICRC is able to develop and maintain contacts with all those who have a significant impact on the course of armed conflicts and on the humanitarian problems that those conflicts create. Such contacts are crucial in gaining access to the field and in permitting the ICRC to conduct its activities for the victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence. For the ICRC, humanitarian coordination should take place first and foremost in the field. It should be reality-based and action-oriented; in other words, it should be based on real capacities available in the field in emergency situations and not on declarations of intent. The ICRC has a unique mandate to protect persons affected by armed conflict and it intends to remain the benchmark organization in that area as well, in particular by helping to ensure that all parties to armed conflicts meet their obligations towards civilians, by improving the protection afforded to persons deprived of their liberty, by restoring family links and by obtaining reliable information on missing persons. With regard to assistance, an activity most of the time closely linked to protection, the ICRC will continue to maintain its approach of covering all emergency needs by providing quality health care in general and medical care in particular, in addition to its relief, water and sanitation activities. It is currently reinforcing its capacity to evaluate the results and impact of its activities. The ICRC is strongly committed to remaining a reliable and predictable organization that conducts itself in a consistent manner and whose work is underpinned by a strong culture of accountability. It will continue to strengthen its ability to learn from its own experience and from that of other organizations. Humanitarian needs in complex emergencies largely exceed the capacity of any single organization to cope. Many agencies with varying objectives and principles for action are therefore needed to respond to such emergencies. The diversity of humanitarian actors and approaches can enhance the response and alleviate suffering if all those involved manage to act in a complementary fashion, in keeping with their respective operational abilities and expertise and with the relevance of their activities to the situation on the ground. The ICRC takes part in coordination efforts together with other humanitarian organizations. It cooperates in particular with its natural partners, the national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, in the countries where it works. The ICRC invests in those relationships with a view to strengthening its own capacity for action and that of its partner national societies, in cooperation with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The ICRC also gives preference to cooperation with national societies participating in international relief operations, in accordance with the rules and agreements of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. At the international level, the ICRC continues to take part in humanitarian-coordination forums. Those include the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, where it enjoys the status of standing invitee; the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response and the new Global Humanitarian Platform. In addition, the ICRC seeks to maintain and strengthen its bilateral relations with other major humanitarian organizations. A good example of that is the agreement reached in November 2006 by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the ICRC on individuals and populations of concern to each organization. Taking into account the specific mandates and primary roles of the two organizations, we have agreed to consult one another and to coordinate our activities with a view to ensuring their complementarity, both in the field and at headquarters. In keeping with its all-victims and all-needs approach, the ICRC has agreed with UNHCR to pursue a structured dialogue in areas of mutual concern relating to protection and assistance for internally displaced persons and refugees. The ICRC is also engaged in this type of dialogue with other major humanitarian agencies within the United Nations system, such as the World Food Programme and UNICEF. In conclusion, the ICRC is convinced that, in the best interests of the victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence, humanitarian coordination should maximize the added value that each organization can bring to the field. The ICRC sees its added value mainly in being a truly independent and neutral humanitarian actor with, globally, very broad access to those in need of protection and assistance as the consequence of armed conflict or other situations of violence.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on these items. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/62/L.12, entitled “Strengthening of international cooperation and coordination of efforts to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster”, as orally corrected. Before proceeding to take action on draft resolution A/62/L.12, I should like to announce that, since its introduction, the following countries have become sponsors of the draft resolution: Albania, Argentina, Austria, Cambodia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Honduras, India, Israel, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Philippines, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to adopt draft resolution A/62/L.12, as orally corrected? May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (d) of agenda item 71?