EventsFeaturesImage galleriesMediaMFAT speeches20042005200620072008Media contact informationMinisters releasesPublications
Mr President
Over the past year the international community has had to respond to a growing number of humanitarian emergencies. These emergencies wreak havoc on nations and communities, threatening economic growth and undermining development, including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. We welcome the Secretary General's Report on Strengthening of the Coordination of Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Assistance of the United Nations which highlights the potential for erosion of the progress we have made towards the MDGs if we fail to address root causes and better link development and humanitarian efforts. It is our duty to seek to prevent and respond to humanitarian crises. On top of the climate related disasters and conflict situations that have affected us, the global food and financial crisis this year has impacted, and will continue to impact, unduly on the poorest of the poor.
Our own Asia-Pacific region is no exception to these challenges. High vulnerability and the severity of natural disasters have resulted in significant loss of life and economic damage. We have been pleased to participate in the rollout of the clusters at a regional level in the Pacific to improve capacity, predictability and response in the event of disasters. In times of humanitarian crisis, immediate lifesaving must be undertaken but development efforts such as disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, a focus on more effective long term food security, social safety nets, and sound economic and legal frameworks are all part of the solution as are more effective partnerships.
Turning now to the Secretary General's Report on the CERF, we are pleased to note the evaluation’s positive assessment of the fund. However we believe there is still room for improvement in terms of consistency of quality, efficiency, timeliness and accountability. Implementing the recommendations will require a concerted and coordinated effort and we look forward to the release of the management response to the CERF evaluation later this week. In line with Good Humanitarian Donorship principles, New Zealand will continue to provide unearmarked predictable multi-year contributions to the CERF and to multilateral agencies with which we partner to allow agencies to prioritise effectively on the basis of agreed strategic priorities.
New Zealand supports the role of the United Nations in providing leadership and coordination of international humanitarian action, especially the role of OCHA. We also consider civil society participation as key to solution and reform efforts. Development and humanitarian activities by communities, NGOs, the Red Cross Movement and the private sector are substantial and they must be recognised as equal and complementary partners to the United Nation's humanitarian system. Humanitarian policy development, planning, programming and financing needs to be undertaken in a way which supports and enhances their activities. New Zealand applauds all those humanitarian workers who put their lives on the frontline to help those in most need. We remain deeply concerned that the there has been an increase in deliberate and targeted attacks of humanitarian workers and we urge all parties to a conflict to respect the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel and its Optional Protocol. New Zealand will continue to advocate for of the preservation of humanitarian space and and of the safety and security of all humanitarian workers.
Mr President
In all situations where humanitarian assistance is provided, the end goal is the alleviation of suffering and the preservation of human life, welfare and dignity – a goal that is certainly worth our collective effort.
Thank you.
