World Humanitarian Day 2015 – Panel Discussion and Award Ceremony

Dear Families and Friends of the Colleagues Lost in Humanitarian
Service and Survivors of those Tragic Events
Dear Annie, Laurent and Adrien Vieira de Mello,
Distinguished Panellists and Moderator,
Distinguished laureates,
Distinguished Ambassadors
Dear Colleagues:

A warm welcome to today’s ceremony to remember the bombing at the UN headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August 2003 when 22 of our colleagues were killed. The day has become the World Humanitarian Day to commemorate all people who have lost their lives in humanitarian service and to celebrate the spirit that inspires humanitarian work around the world.

On the occasion of today’s commemoration the Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon spoke forcefully in support of humanitarians and their work. He specifically noted and I quote:

“We remember Sergio and our colleagues today, and we remember all the humanitarian aid workers who have given their lives in order to help people in need.

These workers and volunteers from around the world remind us of our common humanity – and the need to renew our commitment to those who need us most.”

The Secretary-General further pointed out, that: “[t]oday more than 100 million women and men, children and adolescents need life-saving humanitarian assistance”.

The numbers of volunteers ready to provide help at the height of Ebola in the most affected countries under extremely difficult conditions is still fresh in our minds. The World Health Organization is dedicating the World Humanitarian Day to the many health workers in conflicts and humanitarian crises to recognise their humanity and their service.

The recent hostage taking in Sévaré in Mali, some 600 km North of the capital Bamako, in a hotel frequented by United Nations personnel, is a reminder of the risks humanitarian staff are constantly exposed to.

The challenges are considerable and we need to put better systems in place so that we can carry on our important mission to protect vulnerable populations affected by conflict and crises without endangering our humanitarian colleagues.

Therefore, the Secretary-General has scheduled the first ever World Humanitarian Summit next May in Istanbul. Let me once more quote from his remarks:

“[…] The Summit will focus world attention on how we can better meet the needs of millions of people affected by conflict, disaster and crisis.

I expect Heads of State and Government, and leaders from civil society, the private sector, crisis-affected communities and multilateral organizations to announce bold new ideas to help set the course of humanitarian action for years and decades to come.
The Summit will also reinforce the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and our global commitment to end poverty and leave no-one behind.
I count on the support of all sectors of society to make the World Humanitarian Summit a success. […]” unquote.

We need to better address the root causes that underpin the continuous increase in demand for humanitarian action. Poverty and inequality are often the breeding ground for conflict, and the ensuing humanitarian crises perpetuate poverty. Humanitarian aid is a first step to building resilient communities and bringing them back onto a path of prosperity. Development and humanitarian action are interlinked. The new development framework to be adopted in September and the Humanitarian Summit are timely opportunities to explore these linkages more systematically and to build on synergies.

I am very pleased that we tonight have a sterling panel for today’s discussion that can help us understand the interconnections between the new sustainable development framework and humanitarian response and I very much look forward to hearing their thoughts. I take great pleasure in introducing Mr. Espen Barth Eide, Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board of the World Economic Forum and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus, who will be our moderator today and present the distinguished panellists to us and I wish us all a very fruitful discussion.