Download Chair`s Report – Economic and Social The Question of

Chair’s Report – Economic and Social
The Question of Strengthening the Co-Ordination of
Emergency Humanitarian Aid
Basic Information:
Emergency Humanitarian Aid: logistic and material aid for people in need. Among the
people in need belong homeless, refugees, victims of natural disasters, wars, and
famines. It is intended to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity during
and after man-made crises and disasters caused by natural hazards, as well as to prevent
and strengthen preparedness for when such situations occur.
The Issue:
In many humanitarian crises, the needs of affected populations far outweigh available
resources and capacity to respond. Maximizing aid efforts is one of the most important
challenges for the humanitarian sector.
International food relief often arrives too late — after the hungry have begun to die in large
numbers.
Niger again provides a graphic example of how inadequacies in the system can worsen
a local emergency. A major cause of malnutrition in Niger was the damage done to
pastures by locusts in 2004. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization failed to find
donor funding for a program to eradicate the locusts, allowing them to spread and tipping
parts of the country into crisis.
Africa’s long-term plan, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), argues
that the continent’s widespread hunger and food insecurity can ultimately be eradicated
only if local agricultural production is strengthened and rural living standards are raised.
UN Action:
What key UN entities deliver humanitarian aid?
Four UN entities, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United
Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and
the World Food Programme (WFP) have primary roles in the delivery of relief assistance.
UNDP is the agency responsible for operational activities for natural disaster mitigation,
prevention and preparedness. When emergencies occur, UNDP Resident Coordinators
coordinate relief and rehabilitation efforts at the national level.
Helping refugees:
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) emerged in the wake of World War II to help
Europeans displaced by that conflict. The agency leads and co-ordinates international
action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. The General
Assembly created the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
in the Near East (UNRWA) to provide emergency relief to some 750,000 Palestine
refugees, who had lost their homes and livelihoods as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli
conflict. Today, some 5 million Palestine refugees are eligible for UNRWA services.
The UN General Assembly will host a high-level meeting 19 September 2016 to address
large movements of refugees and migrants, with the aim of bringing countries together
behind a more humane and coordinated approach.
Helping Children:
Since its beginning, The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has strived to reach
as many children as possible with effective, low-cost solutions to counter the biggest
threats to their survival. UNICEF also consistently urges governments and warring parties
to act more effectively to protect children.
Feeding the Hungry
The World Food Programme (WFP) provides relief to millions of people, who are victims
of disasters. It is responsible for mobilizing food and funds for transport for all large-scale
refugee-feeding operations managed by UNHCR.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is often called on to
help farmers re-establish production following floods, outbreaks of livestock disease and
similar emergencies. The FAO Global Information and Early Warning System issues
monthly reports on the world food situation. Special alerts identify, for Governments and
relief organizations, countries threatened by food shortages.
Healing the Sick
The World Health Organization (WHO) coordinates the international response to
humanitarian health emergencies. WHO is responsible for providing leadership on global
health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards,
articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and
monitoring and assessing health trends. In the 21st century, health is a shared
responsibility, involving equitable access to essential care and collective defence against
transnational threats.
Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (CHA)
This organisation was created in 1987 by a team of Afghan volunteers. CHA is now
one of the largest national NGOs in Afghanistan with over 2,100 employees and is
acknowledged as one of the most relevant organisations for humanitarian
assistance and social development in the country.
The aims of CHA are to provide emergency aid for war victims in the field, to assist
with the rehabilitation of rural and urban life and to work with communities for
sustainable development.
The organisation believes that giving communities ownership over their own
development is crucial for sustainable development. Therefore, CHA works directly
with communities to continuously enable and involve them in projects.