19 June 2015: The 2015 Humanitarian Affairs Segment of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) adopted a resolution encouraging UN Member States to support climate change adaptation and strengthen early warning systems, welcoming the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030 and the holding of the first World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, in May 2016. It also called for integrating work on development and humanitarian issues.
The meeting took place on 17-19 June 2015, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on the theme, ‘The future of humanitarian affairs: towards greater inclusiveness, coordination, interoperability and effectiveness.’
Opening the meeting, Mohamed Khaled Khiari, ECOSOC Vice-President (Tunisia), remarked that the demand for humanitarian assistance has reached record levels, and that violations of humanitarian law and human rights law have become a persistent feature of conflict. In a video message, Sam Kutesa, UN General Assembly (UNGA) President, said the post-2015 development agenda will: require an integrated vision; place an emphasis on reducing economic fragility, addressing social disparity and taking into account the environment; and address the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized and of those affected by conflicts and disasters.
Presenting the UN Secretary-General’s report on ‘Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the UN’ (A/70/77-E/2015/64), Stephen O’Brien, UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said US$18.8 billion are required to meet the humanitarian needs of tens of millions of people around the world, and only about 26% of that amount is being funded so far. He noted that the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing is tasked to explore this funding issue, and that preparations are well underway for the World Humanitarian Summit. Later during the meeting, he noted that the number of forcibly displaced people around the world has more than doubled in the past three years to nearly 60 million, and that 20 million people are at risk of hunger in the Sahel – including 1.4 million children who suffer from severe malnutrition.
During a panel on addressing capacity and resource challenges through humanitarian financing, participants discussed: going beyond traditional donors; increasing the participation of the private sector; ensuring better aid coordination; transforming financial institutions at the national and global levels to better channel funding; tracking financing flows; and moving to multi-year plan planning in financing.
Michel Lies, Chief Executive Officer of Swiss Re, said 75% of economic losses from disasters worldwide are not insured and that gap is even bigger in developing countries. He said a successful government-led insurance programme is the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility, which has provided catastrophe insurance to 16 Caribbean Governments, and made payouts for hurricanes, earthquakes and excess rainfall to eight member governments, totaling more than US$36 million. A representative from the World Bank highlighted the importance of putting “price tags” on political decisions taken or not against climate change.
A panel on protecting civilians through international humanitarian law noted that fundamental provisions of international humanitarian and human rights law are disregarded in current conflicts, and more attention is needed on sexual and gender-based violence in situations of conflict, disaster and displacement. The need for accountability was stressed by many, with some welcoming the initiative of Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to establish an ongoing platform to discuss accountability in international humanitarian law.
During the general debate, South Africa, for the G-77/China, said the risks of forced environmental migration are real. Pakistan stressed the need for innovative financing mechanisms. Italy highlighted the importance of scientific and technological challenges in food, nutritional security and sustainable development of agriculture. China called for strengthening capacity building and resilience to disasters, while taking into consideration national and regional needs. Japan said the Sendai Framework emphasizes the importance of guiding principles, including: enhancing investment in DRR; preparedness and awareness for natural disasters; and promotion of resilience at all levels.
Finland outlined the situation of the most vulnerable, including children, women, the elderly and persons with disabilities. Morocco noted the importance of relevant data based on the needs of affected populations to make informed decisions, noting that aid has to reach those who really need it. New Zealand said the Pacific is the region most likely to be impacted by natural disasters. The Republic of Korea underscored ensuring adequate and predictable funding, building the resilience of vulnerable populations, and linking humanitarian assistance planning to development planning early on. Germany said funding means much more than money and stressed the importance of a better understanding of the role of local partners.
Ireland announced that it will hold its own humanitarian summit in the run-up to the Istanbul summit. Zimbabwe stressed the need to do more not only in DRR, but also in the movement from relief and recovery to development and building of resilience. Colombia said in 2014, his country tended to one million people affected by various natural disasters, and stressed the importance of the post-2015 development agenda in overcoming and dealing with the aftermath of environmental disasters. Brazil said the consultation process ahead of the Humanitarian Summit should be State-led and State-driven. He also noted that funds for humanitarian ends must not be “detached” from the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) said the Sendai Framework requests countries to shift their focus from managing disasters to managing risks, and highlighted that such a shift requires a better understanding of risk in all of its dimensions of vulnerability and exposure.
The ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment was preceded by an ECOSOC event to discuss transition from relief to development, with an emphasis on the Ebola crisis. During that event, participants outlined ways to help countries build better resilience systems, and some mentioned that the post-2015 development agenda and the 2016 World Humanitarian Summits could help identify how to be more effective in providing services on the ground. [Meeting Webpage] [Meeting Programme] [UN-Geneva Press Release, 17 June] [UN-Geneva Press Release, 18 June] [UN-Geneva Press Release, 19 June -Morning Session] [UN-Geneva Press Release, 19 June -Afternoon Session] [UNGA President Video Message] [UNGA President Statement] [UN Press Release] [UN-Geneva Press Release on ECOSOC Event to Discuss Transition from Relief to Development]