I am very delighted and honored to join you on the occasion of the convening of the General Assembly of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, in which you will be discussing key issues of strategic and operational significance.
As we all know, the current reality in the world today poses a great challenge for all the concerned about humanity and human dignity. Conflicts and natural disasters in different parts of the world, continued to deprive a large population from the basic necessities of life and freedom. A large segment of the world's population continues to suffer, in a variety of ways.
The Palestinian people have suffered a lot from the adverse effects of a prolonged conflict. The enormous human tragedy caused by the prolonged conflict is, perhaps, the single most important source of concern, not only within the region but also in a global context.
From our perspective as a Federation, the concern becomes even more paramount, as the complexity of the conflicts, often, limits the humanitarian space as a result of which access to victims is denied, and the security of our humanitarian workers on the ground is seriously endangered.
The increased vulnerability of the Palestinian people, makes Palestine an area of humanitarian focus for the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.
Against this background, the Federation is well aware of the immense contribution of your National Society in the effort made to mitigate human suffering within the Autonomous and Occupied Territories of Palestine.
Your contribution is not limited only to the Autonomous and Occupied Territories, but extends to the Palestinian Diaspora in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Iraq.
We view your excellent record of performance in this respect with a special sense of pride, as the exemplary role you all play, enables the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to keep its image, in terms of being the first to arrive, and take charge of its life saving missions.
Your General Assembly provides a good forum for you and your partners from the Movement to discuss not only achievements, but also the challenges ahead. I believe, this will create more dynamism in terms of exchange of experiences, with a prospect of working together on common challenges and opportunities.
In view of increasing competition from other actors in the humanitarian field, it is also important that we work together effectively as a Movement, to harmonize our approaches and maintain our good image, as the largest, and also the most effective, humanitarian organization.
Based on your priorities and preferred modalities of operation, the whole Federation with the coordination of the Secretariat is at your service, to support your efforts in terms of capacity building, encompassing both operational and strategic dimensions.
The coordination and facilitation support in this respect will go a long way, in promoting the solidarity of the Movement with the Palestinian Red Crescent, to enable you to have the required resources to address the challenges, and meet the increased demand for your humanitarian services.
In addition, I would like to commend you for the important work developed by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, which have been contributing and will continue to be a key factor, to the long-lasting peace, we all aim for this region and its people.
I wish your General Assembly every success in its deliberations.