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.