Speech by Marwan Jilani, Permanent Observer of the IFRC to the United Nations, in the United Nations General Assembly, in New York
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address the General Assembly on the strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance, on behalf of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The International Federation is the world largest humanitarian organizations with its 186 member National Societies present and actively building the capacities of the local communities in 186 countries.
The well trained Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers who live within the affected communities, speak their local languages and understand their needs are typically the first responders when a disaster hit.
Today, as the Asia Pacific region reels from one devastating disaster after another, more than 12 million people have been affected. Typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis and flooding have uprooted millions, left them homeless and stripped them of their livelihoods.
The National Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies with their staff and volunteers as first responders have sprung into action with massive emergency assistance.
The impact of an emergency or a disaster in terms of the level of human loss and suffering as well as the economic cost depends on the preparedness and resilience of the affected communities.
That’s why the International Federation invests heavily in preparedness and in strengthening the capacities of the local the communities.
The training of community-based volunteers as first responders have clearly contributed to minimizing the loss of life across disaster areas.
Nevertheless, much need to be done in the field of disaster preparedness and risk reduction. As indicated in the Secretary General report we need to strengthen preparedness “with greater emphasis on disaster risk reduction and particularly on strengthening response capacities at the local, national and regional levels”.
President, the IFRC works on the basis of the Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to inspire, facilitate and promote all humanitarian activities carried out by its member National Societies to improve the situation of the most vulnerable people. We are guided by our seven Fundamental Principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.
Humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence have become synonymous with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. We believe that our strict adherence to these fundamental principles have allowed us to operate in quite difficult and complex situations.
This is precisely the unique character of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement which ensures access and acceptance by all when it really matters the most for the vulnerable people.
However, the environment in which humanitarian organizations work have become more complex and difficult.
Such complexity, coupled with the presence of various non-humanitarian actors involved in humanitarian assistance, development work and nation building do put into question the foundations of humanitarian work.
To preserve the integrity of the humanitarian principles, state and non-state actors must understand the critical importance and need for humanitarian organizations to adhere to these principles.
President, the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and volunteers is of great concern to the International Federation.
Our ability to reach to the most vulnerable in difficult circumstances and in all corners of the world depends on the level of safety of our staff and volunteers, the expats as well as the locals.
As highlighted by the Secretary General recommendations contained in his report, “safe, timely and unhindered access to vulnerable populations is a prerequisite for the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance…… Member States and non-State actors are urged to tale all necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel, facilities and supplies within their areas of control.”
President, a recently published op-ed, our Secretary General, Mr. Bekele Geleta and the Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency relief Coordinator, Mr. John Holmes, highlighted that “the increasing threat to life and livelihood posed by climate change is already palpable and the need for effective action agreed in Copenhagen is increasingly urgent ... There is a unique opportunity to put in place a comprehensive global approach for climate change mitigation and adaptation.”
The IFRC is in constant dialogue with a number of partners including within the UN system and the NGOs community, in order to influence the outcome of the Copenhagen Conference.
We will be represented at the conference with a delegation that includes a number of National Society leaders from around the world.
Finally, Mr. President, we would reiterate the Secretary General’s call upon member states to maintain a diversity of humanitarian funding channels, and to provide consistent and predictable support to these channels to meet existing and growing humanitarian needs.
We also take this opportunity to express our thanks and gratitude for all those member states who have been providing generous support to the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF), to our emergency appeals and National Societies’ development plans, directly or though their National Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies.