Phl calls for balanced agenda in humanitarian summit

The Philippines underscored the need for a balanced agenda during the first World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) next month and called for equal attention to humanitarian crises brought about by natural disasters that have adverse effects on development, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

During a briefing by United Nations Secretary- General Ban Ki- moon for Member States on April 4 on the ongoing preparations for the first WHS which will be held from May 23 to 24 in Istanbul, Turkey, the DFA said Ambassador Lourdes Yparraguirre, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, also called for more clarity on the commitments expected at the Summit.

The WHS will bring together governments, humanitarian organizations, people affected by humanitarian crises (arising from both political strife and natural disasters) and new partners, including the private sector, to propose solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges and set an agenda to keep humanitarian action fit for the future.

“Indeed for us, the link between these humanitarian crises and our development agenda is concrete. Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, for instance, slowed down our GDP growth by 0.6 percent in the 1st quarter of 2014. Climate change has also increased the frequency and exacerbated the effects of these natural disasters,” Yparraguirre said.

The WHS will have a Leaders’ Segment for Heads of States and Governments which will focus on the five core responsibilities of the Agenda for Humanity. These five core responsibilities are: Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflict, Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity, Leave No One Behind, Change People’s Lives – from Delivering Aid to Ending Need, and Invest in Humanity.

“While form is important, we can no longer afford to dither for solutions. Let us muster a strong political will to come together, make the Summit a resounding success as a strong foundation for concrete follow-up actions, and help millions of suffering people reclaim their dignity,” Yparraguirre said.