danishdemininggroup.dk: Save lives and relieve suffering

Save lives and relieve suffering

27.09.11

The humanitarian imperative of saving lives at the Horn of Africa must override any political considerations at this crucial time, says Ann Mary Olsen at the UN mini-Summit.

Speech by Ann Mary Olsen, head of International Department, at the Ministerial Mini-summit on humanitarian support to the Horn of Africa in New York, Saturday 24 September 2011.

Madam Chairperson, Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak at this timely and highly relevant summit.

The Danish Refugee Council has been working in Horn of Africa for the past 15 years engaging in large scale relief and recovery programmes in response to the humanitarian crisis and has scaled up its response to the recent serious humanitarian situation that is affecting millions of people due to conflict, drought and famine in the region.

The humanitarian crisis in Somalia and the rest of Horn of Africa continues to worsen and is putting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people at risk. Somalia is at a turning point and there is an immediate need to step up life-saving assistance with all efforts. There is no time to loose if we want to address the deteriorated situation in Somalia and to mitigate the consequences of continued conflict, drought and isolation.

But efforts to increase assistance and prevent more deaths will not be enough unless accompanied by a dramatic change in approach, where dialogue between all parties to the conflict and respect for an improved access to people requiring relief aid remains a key factor. Threats of violence and a lack of security continue to impair the movement of humanitarian organisations to those areas in the south where people are suffering the most.
The humanitarian imperative of saving lives must override any political considerations at this crucial time.

To this end, Danish Refugee Council together with other NGOs working in the region continues to urge international governments and other influential actors in the region to:

Enhance diplomatic efforts and engage in dialogue with all parties to the conflict to ensure the unhindered access and delivery of humanitarian aid throughout Somalia. We encourage all actors to continue to use their influence to achieve the rapid scaling up of humanitarian assistance and saving of lives.
Remove any legal impediments to providing assistance in areas dominated by armed groups - aid must be provided impartially, based on need, and independently of any political or military agendas
Ensure that large scale funding is pledged and available for a mayor scale up of relief interventions in Somalia and in the region, following the funding needs described in the CAP.
Ensure long term commitment, and that funding is set aside for long term support to recovery initiatives that can link emergency efforts with longer term interventions to provide solutions and reduce vulnerability.

In the long term, political stability in Somalia is a fundamental precondition for recovery and development processes. The sustained conflict continues to cause constant displacement of people that are fleeing hunger and insecurity, affecting economic activities and hampering humanitarian access. To this end international political and diplomatic efforts continues to be key to these processes, and in addressing the root causes.

However, here and now and in the short term perspective, the immediate aim by all of us must be to save live and relieve the suffering of the people affected by the dire situation that continues to deteriorate and cost lives every day. To this end the next coming months are critical.

Madam Chairperson, The Danish Refugee Council remains committed to supporting the scale up of immediate relief assistance even challenges and difficulties are many. We are confident that the operational challenges can be overcome, and we will continue to deliver aid to the affected populations following the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and operational independence.

Thank you for you attention

Ann Mary Olsen
Head of International Department
Danish Refugee Council

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