First of all, I would like to thank the Hong Kong Red Cross
and the Red Cross Society of China for its hospitality in hosting
this "Red Cross and Red Crescent Tsunami Response Forum".
We all know that your National Society immediately came to the
aid of those overwhelmed by this enormous disaster. And now
you are welcoming us in your home so that we can coordinate
our humanitarian intervention as appropriately and effectively
as possible.
You have shown us what a serious commitment to solidarity means,
involving yourselves with determination so that millions of
people can regain hope for the future. We all join together
in solidarity with the victims and their families.
I would also like to welcome all of you and express my gratitude
to every one of you here as representatives of National Societies
of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, the International Committee
of the Red Cross and the Federation Secretariat.
We are all here today to help the National Societies of the
countries which suffered directly from the disaster. I would
like to tell you, on behalf of the whole Movement, that we will
be with you for as long as you deem it necessary. Just as you
should be the ones to guide our work in your countries. No one
knows your needs better than you.
We must fully respect the National Societies in the countries
where we carry out our actions, and take heed of their priorities,
bearing cultural aspects and sensitivities in mind. This must
be done within the plans established by the international community
whereby any action that we undertake must be for the benefit
of victims, through medium and long-term actions.
Your own National Societies must come out of this situation
reinforced and stronger. To the sorrow which any human being
must feel bound to express at so much suffering and irreparable
loss, I would like to make special mention of volunteers of
National Societies who were victims of this tragedy.
Since 26 December, as we have felt the destructive power of
the disaster, even in remote places, world public opinion roused
itself from its slumber. And as part of this international community,
even in such a respected and experienced organization as our
own, more than ever before in our history, we were made to feel
our inadequacies due to the immeasurable scale of the damage
and the pain of this natural disaster.
Precisely for this reason, and consistent with our humanitarian
commitment, on this occasion too we must put together the most
powerful response we can, to tackle what is undeniably an extraordinary
challenge for us all. This disaster places us in front of an
unprecedented challenge to make the best possible use of the
resources and the trust that we have received from citizens
around the globe.
I would ask all of you to make a great effort, in a spirit of
loyal cooperation, in tackling the difficulties that will no
doubt arise, but which we must overcome together.
In the face of a human disaster which devastated us all, the
international community - governments, citizens and institutions
- have entrusted us with the task of deploying all our resources,
and working to our full potential, through our International
Movement, to take up the challenge, drawing on our humanitarian
experience and the advantage of our universal presence. This
is a tremendous responsibility for all of us.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
and its Secretariat has overall responsibility for leading the
continuation of relief operations and drawing up recovery, rehabilitation
and reconstruction programmes on a vast scale in the countries
affected. Today we estimate that our commitment will have to
last at least until the end of the present decade.
We are therefore preparing to embark on the greatest humanitarian
undertaking that our Institution can remember. We must keep
firmly in mind, that our efforts have to match up to the unprecedented
reactions of the international community which, trusting in
the Red Cross and Red Crescent, has placed in our hands an unprecedented
amount of resources collected. In this regards, we now have
a double responsibility.
On the one hand we must coordinate the most appropriate operational
mechanisms to carry out our humanitarian work. This coordination
has to be done in accordance with two principles:
• First, the maximum respect to the National Societies
where the actions take place as well as its priorities, characteristics
and culture, acknowledging at the same time, that they are contributing
to the overall plans of the international community and their
governments.
• Second, special care has to be put in place to make
possible, that a strong action from the Secretariat and the
ICRC can be combined with a strong collaboration between sister
National Societies.
Our second challenge will be to put in place the mechanisms
to account with total transparency not only for the donations
which have been placed at our disposal, but also for the results
of the activities to be carried out.
In the face of this disaster, the Federation, through its Secretariat,
will have to accelerate its strategies for change, to adapt
to current humanitarian needs, as we have been planning for
some time. "Our Federation of the Future" project, and the implementation
of the Secretariat plan, today take on special significance
in the key areas of action which we have defined.
Now more than ever, we need to strengthen and coordinate the
capacity of National Societies which are in the most precarious
situations and also face the most difficult humanitarian challenges.
In this meeting, we must certainly highlight the role of donor
National Societies. It is obvious that without their involvement,
none of our proposals here would be possible. That is why I
consider it essential for the Federation, again in its role
of coordinating support for the communities affected, to facilitate
each and every one of the initiatives of contributing National
Societies.
Our Federation's Secretariat must facilitate the actions of
National Societies when these opt for bilateral cooperation
and more direct action among National Societies; this option
has the same validity as the activities that are carried out
within the Federation.
Believe me, it is tremendously gratifying to be with you all,
today. It is the unanimous response by the entire Red Cross
and Red Crescent to tackle human suffering with courage and
tenacity, which reaffirms the dynamic strength of our mission
of respect for human life and dignity.
This is both a golden opportunity and a major challenge for
the Movement, the National Societies, the Federation, and its
Secretariat. At the same time, it is also the reason why we
are seen by the people of the world as a viable vehicle through
which to channel the material expression of their personal solidarity.
I will end by asking that this meeting be used to discuss and
agree the Regional Strategy and Operational Framework, so that
that those affected regain their hope and a decent life.
This terrible tragedy, I repeat, is a difficult challenge for
the International Federation and our International Movement
as a whole. But it is also a marvellous opportunity to illustrate
how the power of humanity can help those vulnerable to natural
disasters.
|
 |
|
News
