UNITED STATES ANNOUNCES $1.7 BILLION IN REFUGEE RELIEF FOR COMING YEAR AS COUNCIL DEBATES ECONOMIC, HUMANITARIAN, DISASTER AID

Press Release
ECOSOC/5916

UNITED STATES ANNOUNCES $1.7 BILLION IN REFUGEE RELIEF FOR COMING YEAR AS COUNCIL DEBATES ECONOMIC, HUMANITARIAN, DISASTER AID

The United States Government has allocated $1.7 billion over the coming year for refugees, the representative of that country told the Economic and Social Council this morning as it began its general discussion of special economic, humanitarian and disaster relief assistance.

He said the United States would also give another $2 million to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in support of expanding and improving its programmes in Angola. An additional $175,000 would be given to Francis Deng, Representative of the Secretary-General for Displaced Persons, to enhance his efforts on behalf of internal refugees.

He had made his country’s arrears to the Organization an issue high on the agenda the United States representative went on. Many strides had been made, and it was important to keep in mind that the United States had given over $900 million in the past year in support of the efforts being discussed in the Council today. Next year the sum would be even higher. It would probably be closer to a billion dollars, but it came in so many forms it was difficult to add up, he said.

Brazil’s representative said the international community showed its generosity in mobilizing to help victims during the acute moments of humanitarian crises as a reaction to images seen in the press. But the effects of emergencies were felt long after disasters had taken place or hostilities had ceased. For that reason, it was essential to attract the resources and attention of the international community for reconstruction and development as well as for preventing humanitarian catastrophes.

The representative of Colombia (speaking on behalf of the Rio Group) said that in the face of the recurrence of natural disasters "we must urgently devise a system for the creative and effective international division of labour". Responses to those situations should neither be isolated efforts nor temporary palliatives. Rather they should lead to an international strategy that would comprehensively respond to natural disasters with long-term vision.

Also this morning, Carolyn McAskie, Emergency Relief Coordinator, a.i., Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), introduced the Secretary-General’s report on strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance.

Economic and Social Council - 1a - Press Release ECOSOC/5916 32nd Meeting (AM) 20 July 2000

She said an internal review of OCHA’s operations had been launched two months ago. The main thrust was to better mobilize and coordinate the collective resources of the international community in meeting the needs of those exposed to suffering and material destruction. OCHA’s aim was to develop a consolidated and integrated approach, encompassing both natural disasters and complex emergencies. OCHA would also strengthen its coordination capacity in the field. However, OCHA needed a “surge capacity” which would allow deployment of people within 24 hours of a crisis erupting. It would be similar to the rapid response capacity already part of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) system for use in instances of natural disasters.

Statements were also made this morning by the representatives of France (on behalf of the European Union), Burundi, Angola, Sudan, Croatia, Mexico, Norway, Cuba, the Observer for Switzerland and Bangladesh.

A statement was also made by the Executive Director of the World Food Programme.

The Council will meet again this afternoon to continue its general discussion of special economic, humanitarian and disaster relief assistance.

Council Work Programme

The 2000 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council met this morning to start its general discussion of special economic, humanitarian and disaster relief assistance as part of its humanitarian affairs segment.

(For background information see Press Release ECOSOC/5913 of 19 July.)

Report of Secretary-General

CAROLYN McASKIE, Emergency Relief Coordinator, a.i., Office for the

Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), introduced the Secretary-General’s

report on strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance

(document A/55/82-E/2000/61; for summary, see press release ECOSOC/5913 dated

19 July). She said the report indicated the extremely wide range of activities in

which the United Nations and its humanitarian partners were involved, while

stretched to the limit with responding to new emergencies and coping with

unresolved crises. Humanitarian agencies were confronted with key issues in which

the small OCHA office was working to be more effective.

A major focus of the humanitarian segment this year was the harnessing of new technology to support national efforts in disaster response, she continued. Rapid advances in technology put demands on humanitarian agencies. They had to monitor technological advances and anticipate their application. They had to explore opportunities for cooperation with the private sector. And they had to take full advantage of technological resources. Initiatives, such as the signing of treaties, needed to be developed with the government and civil society of every disaster-prone country.

Further, she said, it was becoming clear that capacities developed in response to natural disasters and complex emergencies were highly complementary. Some structures and mechanisms developed for natural disaster response could be used in response to complex emergencies and vice versa. The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Teams (UNDAC), for example, had been developed with natural disaster response in mind and had also been used in complex emergencies. Integrating the capacities was highly advantageous for addressing major humanitarian issues of concern.

For one, she said the criminal abuses perpetrated with impunity against children and women in situations of armed conflict had to be stopped. Also, if civilian victims of armed conflict were to be protected and helped, the security of staff had to be ensured. Security training was among the inter-agency initiatives taken in that direction. In addition, access to those in need of humanitarian aid had to be gained through negotiation techniques; relief and development linkages had to be strengthened, as did humanitarian advocacy on behalf of displaced populations. Most importantly, coordination mechanisms had to be improved.

An internal review of OCHA’s operations had been launched two months ago, she said. The main thrust was to better mobilize and coordinate the collective resources of the international community in meeting the needs of those exposed to suffering and material destruction. OCHA’s aim was to develop a consolidated and integrated approach encompassing both natural disasters and complex emergencies. OCHA would also strengthen its coordination capacity in the field. However, she concluded, OCHA needed a “surge capacity”, which would allow deployment of people within 24 hours of a crisis erupting. It would be similar to the rapid response capacity already part of the UNDAC system for use in instances of natural disasters.

JEAN-DAVID LEVITTE (France) spoke on behalf of the European Union and the associated States of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta, Turkey and Liechtenstein. He said that one of the vital aspects of humanitarian assistance –- staff security -– had been integrated into the Consolidated Appeals Process and should be reinforced. He called on all States to accede to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel and to sign and ratify the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court and the Optional Protocol on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Those actions would increase the protection of populations and end serious violations of international humanitarian law.

He said the capacity for response and coordination of activities called for adequate procedures and stable permanent staff who were available and trained. It was unsatisfactory that the operation OCHA was not covered for the most part by the United Nations regular budget. When short- or long-term missions had to be conducted in the field, the inadequacy of resources and staff too often resulted in inability to fully carry out the tasks of coordination, analysis, forecasting and information at Headquarters or in other countries. The Union also called on the Secretary-General to establish, with the appropriate departments, specific administrative procedures and rules for staff recruitment and humanitarian supplies.

Technical and technological advances must be used for the prevention and mitigation of natural disasters, while ensuring that they did not themselves lead to further large-scale damage. "It is up to us to find the best possible use for tools which may be available", he said. Those tools were technologies such as the geographical information system and the global positioning system, which allowed for better identifications of sites, risks and damage. Better use should also be made of communication tools to enable immediate dissemination of information and networking of those operating in the humanitarian sector.

Prevention and coordination were also important in other humanitarian situations, he said. Conflict situations had worsened throughout the world. The number of persons displaced within their own countries was increasing dramatically and was now almost twice the figure for refugees. The extent and diversity of the humanitarian needs of the displaced, which could not always be catered for by the host communities, must not meet with an inadequate or disorganized response. He said the Union supported the strengthening of the central role of the Emergency Relief Coordinator and increasing the responsibility of the Resident Humanitarian Coordinator.

PASCAL NKURUNZINZA, Minister for Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Refugees and Returnees of Burundi, said that since October 1993, his country had experienced the most serious social and political crisis in its history, characterized by massive destruction of human lives and community infrastructures. That crisis had led to huge displacements of people, internally as well as externally. His country had more than 800,000 internally displaced persons, living in unacceptable conditions in some 300 sites, he said. Those did not include the thousands of people who had been taken in by urban or rural households. Internal displacement had not only affected minimal living standards, but had hampered access to social services and destroyed family bonds. Many households were led by children or by women of advanced age. The number of children on their own had increased, and their most basic rights needed protection.

Of the 800,000 internally displaced persons, 300,000 had been gathered in special camps. That had never been Burundi’s policy, but was forced upon the Government because of their need for protection. Those camps would be dismantled as security improved and by the end of July they would no longer exist. He appealed for help for all those displaced inside their countries. Such internally displaced persons often went unrecognized. He therefore called on the international community to join in the efforts to mobilize the necessary resources for internally displaced persons. Tomorrow might be too late, he said.

He said the situation remained precarious because of the instability in his country. His Government hoped that a comprehensive peace agreement would be achieved in the near future. Given the extremely precarious socio-economic condition of the people, it would be self-deception to assume that the peace accord would settle the Burundi question. He appealed for financial support for a comprehensive programme for the return and resettlement of the people who had been displaced. On top of the difficulties of instability, there had also been a four year drought, he added.

ALBINO MALUNGO (Angola) said his country continued to live with a precarious humanitarian situation. The recovery by the Government of 92 per cent of the Angolan national territory had resulted in an influx of people from the conflict areas to the zones currently under State administration. The Government saw its burden doubled as it undertook the task of caring for those in need and relocating those who were deprived of the most basic needs to new and safe resettlement areas. Among the priorities established for the coming months were: continuation of life-saving operations for the most vulnerable groups; resettlement of displaced persons; development of contingency plans for areas where new displacements were expected; and preparation of rapid impact projects aimed at restoring basic services and rural infrastructures, alleviating poverty and promoting peace.

He said that an emergency action plan had also been developed by several Government institutions, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). That plan set forth nationwide strategies for the various sectors, and was the first to involve the various humanitarian players. It would also be the benchmark by which the governments of the provinces would draft their own emergency plans. Access of the humanitarian agencies to areas in Angola was limited to two-thirds of the country, because some of those agencies refused to set up operations in locations such as Bailundo, Andulo, Nharera and other places due to security problems, the need for authorization or the lack of resources.

His Government, he said, was committed to the resettlement programme and expected to have resettled around 500,000 people by the end of this year in agricultural or productive programmes. The resettlement was voluntary, and governed by minimal operational standards and goals. Mine clearance in the resettlement areas was also a priority. His Government reaffirmed its commitment to the security of humanitarian personnel, and had carried out several missions in the provinces to resolve situations that had arisen. It was also aware of the fact that it had to be the first one to come to the rescue of those in need of assistance. Consequently $54 million had been allocated to an emergency humanitarian assistance programme.

Despite Government efforts, he said, assistance from the international community continued to be indispensable. He once again appealed to donors for their continued support of his country. Angola was in need of more resources to implement various pilot projects intended to restore basic social services.

SHARAF ELDIEN BANAGA, Minister for Construction and Housing, Sudan, said his country faced all kinds of disasters, natural and man-made. Among a total of five million people displaced in the Sudan, 2.3 million were in Khartoum, which had taken initiatives to cope with the multitude of problems created by dislocation, including the inevitable settling of the displaced in areas not intended for living. Humanitarian actions to provide services and mitigate the political, social and cultural impact of displacement had been undertaken with an eye to safeguarding national unity and integrating the displaced into society. Efforts of both national and international NGOs were appreciated, although some international NGOs had become involved in internal matters.

The Government welcomed voluntary activities for humanitarian assistance, he said. That assistance, however, had dwindled sharply during the first quarter of the present year. Also, 90 per cent of the displaced had not been taken into account because they did not live in camps. The Government used all its resources, supplemented by voluntary activities, to assist the people. The Government was also developing additional policies because solutions to the problem of the internally displaced would not materialize unless the root causes were tackled.

He said that the displaced from the South and from the Nuba region were encouraged to relocate. Increased external assistance to help them was encouraged. However, the most important policy initiative was to consolidate national unity and to spread the culture of peace. The rights of the displaced in Sudan were respected, and there was no discrimination against them. Further, the character of displacement could not be determined from any single perspective, such as hunger. Nor could the mass media convey a situation that people understood within their own cultural norms.

Those working in the humanitarian field should respect such norms and accept the country’s laws as capable of protecting the people, he concluded. There was no need to interfere in internal affairs. Regional and national agencies to deal with the problems of the displaced would be developed. That would ensure that respect for laws and for national sovereignty were respected.

VLADIMIR DROBNJAK, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Croatia, said the number and range of organizations involved in humanitarian response to crises was increasing and the needs of people affected by those emergencies were rising, while the coordination challenge was growing as a result. The involvement of the private sector in humanitarian assistance was desirable, given its ability to introduce new technology. He welcomed the Ericsson Corporation’s programme for the provision of communications technology in the disaster mitigation process.

He reiterated the strong linkage between humanitarian assistance and development, both in terms of preparing for an exit strategy and also as a source of prevention. As for the goals of sustainable development and full respect for human rights, it was his country's experience that the return of displaced persons would only take place if they were returning to an economically self-sustaining environment.

There was also a need to strengthen the capacity of regional organizations in the area of humanitarian assistance, he said. While bilateral aid was an important component, it came after the event and therefore could not be as beneficial as multilateral aid available before the event, and given in the cause of prevention. It was no coincidence that numerous regional initiatives were emerging, aimed at promoting durable peace through the prevention and mitigation of humanitarian emergencies. The strong emergence of regional organizations made it clear that coordination, and perhaps specialization, should be the key to the future development of humanitarian assistance.

ALFONSO VALDIVIESO (Colombia) first spoke on behalf of the Rio Group: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama.

He said reducing the vulnerability of Latin American and Caribbean countries to the threat of natural disasters was a general policy objective in his region that required a number of measures. The first was the reduction of poverty. A population with a better source of livelihood was better prepared to respond to natural disasters. Poverty reduction programmes today formed part of the policies of all the Governments of his region. The second measure was to promote a culture of disaster prevention. That meant educating local communities in order to strengthen their emergency management capacities, with the active participation of civil society and the use of communications media. Considerable public and private international resources could be used to promote the culture of disaster preparedness in countries vulnerable to such crises.

The third and fourth measures for natural disaster management were the application of scientific knowledge and strengthening regional cooperation. The region could also speak of two important achievements. The first was an electronic system –- called SUMA -- for the transparent and efficient management of relief supplies and donations of humanitarian assistance. It was developed by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean with the assistance of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The system had already been successfully used in various parts of the world. The other achievement had been the use of the Internet to guide transition from relief to rehabilitation during the emergency caused by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

It was the Group's wish that innovations developed in its region and other regions of the world could be made widely available. In the face of the tragic recurrence of natural disasters "we must urgently devise a system for the creative and effective international division of labour", he said. "Our responses to these situations should neither be isolated efforts nor temporary palliatives". Rather they should lead to an international strategy to respond to natural disasters comprehensively and with long-term vision. In the internationalization of that strategy, the United Nations was called on to play a key role. "Our Organization must provide answers to the questions of what, how and who in the field of international cooperation in natural disaster relief operations", he said. Speaking in his national capacity, he said his Government had incorporated assistance to internally displaced persons in the peace strategy of the National Development Plan, and had placed it as one of its priorities in the policy of human rights and international law. A National Plan of Action had thus been approved, with emphasis on the prevention of displacement and the return of internally displaced persons as the main goals.

He said better coordination of United Nations organizations dealing with internally displaced persons, and conformity with resolutions of the General Assembly on emergency humanitarian assistance, would yield positive results for people affected by displacement wherever emergencies took place as a result of conflict.

GELSON FONSECA JR. (Brazil) said the first obstacle that might thwart the provision of humanitarian assistance was the lack of resources and the inappropriate allocation of available funds. The current resources were insufficient to cope with the increasing number of natural disasters and other emergencies. While those available for emergency relief were generally abundant, those for long-term efforts tended to dwindle. In other words, the international community showed its generosity in the mobilization to help victims during the acute moments of humanitarian crises, as a reaction to images seen in the press. While such generosity was important, the effects of emergencies, nevertheless, were felt long after disasters had taken place or the hostilities in situations of armed conflict had ceased.

For that reason, he continued, it was essential to attract the resources and attention of the international community for reconstruction and development as well as for preventing humanitarian catastrophes. Furthermore, it was fundamental to acknowledge that bilateral cooperation might complicate the coordination of assistance activities on the ground. A second set of obstacles was related to the access of humanitarian personnel to those in need of assistance. In several situations of armed conflict, the deliberate denial of access was a powerful weapon used against the civilian population. In other cases, denial of access was used as a way to shroud breaches of international human rights law and refugee law. Although States were responsible for providing assistance to their populations, they must take into account their international obligations and facilitate the work of humanitarian personnel in conditions of safety and security.

He said that according to UNHCR estimates, there were some 20 to 25 million internally displaced persons in the world, the majority living under precarious conditions. If any importance was attached to the principles of humanity, impartiality and neutrality, the sole motive of assistance ought to be to help the needy. "We cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of the displaced, as if their plight had nothing to do with our work at the United Nations", he said. The High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, was right to underline the imperative of integrating protection of the displaced into a long-term strategy intended to bring about lasting solutions for displacement crises. To that end, a strong political commitment was indispensable.

ROGELIO MARTINEZ-AGUILAR (Mexico), aligning himself with the statement of Colombia on behalf of the Rio Group, said humanitarian assistance constituted one of the most noble reflections of human solidarity. Natural disasters and rapidly proliferating conflicts had not only led to loss of lives but had also caused the displacements of thousands of people.

International cooperation on development had to be strengthened in the context of a culture of prevention, he said. Humanitarian assistance was a complex task that demanded clear parameters. It must be provided in conformity with the context of principles of neutrality, impartiality and territorial integrity, and always with the consent of the recipient State.

He stressed the need for strengthening the capacity of the United Nations to provide leadership to the international community in support of relief actions. It was essential to be able to count on adequate resources, provided unconditionally. Maximum priority must be given to the care of women, children and the aged, who were vulnerable in armed conflict and displacement. Humanitarian personnel had to be assured of access in safe conditions. Humanitarian assistance was an issue of international cooperation, he added, and it was important to assess the role of developing countries not only as recipients, but also as active participants.

RICHARD HOLBROOKE (United States) said he would use the conventional term “IDP” although initials dehumanized the people who were displaced and the human element in their situations should never be forgotten. Recapping some of the many steps taken to help internal refugees, he said he was sceptical of the “collaborative approach” and preferred the interagency approach. The term collaborative had come to signify an attitude of no one taking responsibility and everyone “passing the buck”. The interagency approach did not mean that a single agency would be responsible; it simply meant that in each country facing a relevant issue, the United Nations would designate one lead agency to resolve it.

He said he sympathized with the idea of collaboration. No single entity could deal with a problem such as that of internally displaced persons. However, the situation in Angola was a good example of a situation needing improvement. Experience had proved that a “co-head meant no head”. He would not block consensus on initiatives being put forward and he looked forward, to seeing if the new system worked. “Let’s see if the organizations do work together in the future”, he said, adding that he found it difficult to imagine in a place like Luanda, where all the agencies were in different buildings connected by bad communications systems. In the coming months, the United States State Department would ask for assessments of the collaborative approach. That information would be shared with the Council, whose work was of such import that his country, for the first time ever, had sent two Secretaries to address it.

Accountability and universality should be among the lead agency modalities, he said. Also, governments should be subjected to political pressure to protect internal refugees. State sovereignty was a cornerstone of the United Nations, but no government could flout the principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality characterizing the United Nations. The Security Council should formally recognize the status of internal refugees. Their situation should be given highest priority. Lots of noise should be made to publicize their situation and bring about action.

To demonstrate its commitment, he said, the United States would give an additional $175,000 to Francis Deng, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Displaced Persons, to enhance his efforts on behalf of internal refugees. He said more effort needed to be put into identifying internally displaced people and to supporting both internal and external refugees. Relief and development efforts needed to be more closely linked. New and flexible channels of aid should be explored. Then, on top of the additional funding to Francis Deng, the United States would give another $2 million to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in support of expanding and improving its programmes in Angola. In addition, his Government had distributed $1.7 billion to be allocated over the next year in connection with refugees, an issue closer to the heart of his country’s Congress than peacekeeping.

Ultimately, he said, he had made his country’s arrearage an issue high on the agenda. Many strides had been made and it was important to keep in mind that the United States had given over $900 million in the past year to the efforts being discussed today. Next year it would be even higher. It would probably be closer to a billion dollars, but it came in so many forms it was difficult to add up. The rationale behind the strong support was that the focus must always be kept on the people at the centre of situations.

OLE PETER KOLBY (Norway) said the humanitarian challenges that arose in 1998 and 1999 were almost without precedent. Earthquakes and other natural disasters, causing devastation and losses in so many countries, were combined with a surge of armed conflicts. That had created a formidable humanitarian agenda. A “culture of prevention” should be created.

Strong defences against calamity and destruction must be built, he said. One line of defence was to protect and rehabilitate environmental systems and resources. Another had to do with enactment and enforcement of appropriate regulations and standards regarding land use, zoning and construction. Equitable and sustainable economic development was yet another line of defence. The international community needed to further improve its capacity to provide short- term relief after disaster had struck. The question of how to build better transparency and accountability into disaster risk management, and how to ensure effective anti-corruption measures, must also be addressed.

Efficient humanitarian preparedness systems were needed, and a much improved system of international coordination. “It is the results that count, not the flags”, he said. His country had taken up the issue of lack of coordination and the tendency towards bilateralization. International leadership was needed, as were much better mechanisms of coordination between multilateral, bilateral and non-governmental parties. It was important in that context that the Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeals were increasingly used by donors and agencies as a coordination framework for their humanitarian assistance, he said.

LUIS AMOROS NUMEZ (Cuba) said that despite the basic principles of the United Nations, humanitarian assistance was still being made dependent on political aims, which was unacceptable. Assistance should be requested when wanted. More attention should be paid to turning relief efforts into development ones. No country's development should be devalued. It was of concern that some developed countries linked humanitarian assistance with human rights, and that complex emergency situations did not receive the same attention as natural disasters. The results of the consolidated humanitarian appeal had been low.

With regard to NGOs and multilateral aid, he said the role of States in channeling assistance was important in safeguarding NGO mandates. The private sector should play a role and donor states should contribute, but the role of the central government would remain, for example in using technology for confronting and managing natural disasters such as hurricanes. Also, assistance in preparedness did not mean that the humanitarian assistance associated with disasters should be decreased. It could be best achieved by transfer of technology and planning, on the basis of that economic growth and development were indispensable to preparedness. Cooperation and solidarity were major components of preparedness. Cuba, despite the crippling embargo by the superpower, sent its doctors to assist its neighbours in times of trouble. "Share what little you have. Share more when you have much" should be the motto for humanitarian assistance.

CATHERINE BERTINI, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) said WFP had managed a record response to record demands. In 1999, it had provided assistance to nearly 89 million people world wide, a 17 per cent increase in the number of beneficiaries over 1998. There had been a huge increase in natural disasters, and more had to be expected. She was particularly concerned with the effects of droughts, which affected millions of people. At present, the total number of beneficiaries targeted for assistance by WFP for drought emergencies amounted to 16 million. It was not just the response that was important: even more critical was putting resources into mitigation and preparedness, and helping people build their own infrastructure so that they would be able to cope when disaster struck.

On the issue of internally displaced persons, she said a collaborative approach was necessary. Responsibilities had to be articulated. She hoped that this week’s debate would result in further consolidation.

The work of her organization could not be done without a sophisticated logistic system, which had worked well for the WFP and also for other United Nations organizations. She hoped she could continue the further important role of logistics within the United Nations family. The role of technology was equally important in that context, she said.

She repeated her plea for urgent, substantive, political and financial support for the security of United Nations staff around the world. They worked in some of the most dangerous locations on earth. They protected and helped the poorest people on earth in the hope that the United Nations would bring them a better future -- but also in the expectation that the United Nations could protect them. “They should not have to give their lives”, she said.

CHARLES RAEDERSDORF, Head of the Swiss Corps of Aid in the Case of Catastrophe (Switzerland) said the fate of internally displaced persons concerned everybody. They had the right to assistance and protection. The prime responsibility, however, rested with the States concerned. If those States could not meet their responsibility, the international community had to fill the breach. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had been mandated by States to provide assistance to all people in the case of armed conflict.

Those who actually carried out the humanitarian task were the most precious assets, he said. It was incumbent upon international organizations and the international community to guarantee their safety by providing the requisite resources and developing a joint doctrine. The prime responsibility, however, rested with the State in question and other parties to armed conflict. Access to victims was closely linked to the question of safety of staff.

Technology had improved the quality and targeting of humanitarian response. By itself, however, technology was not a panacea: it had to be properly managed. Technology should be shared in order to be fully used, and partnership and cooperation should make access to technology easier. The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction should play a key part in natural disaster prevention, he said.

ANWARUL KARIM CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh) said performance in face of the increasing demand for humanitarian assistance was mixed. There were encouraging signs of progress and of greater responsiveness. However, the pace of progress was irregular. The Council's agreed conclusions should reflect a number of issues. First, every effort should be made to maintain the upswing in contributions to the consolidated appeals. The safety of humanitarian personnel should be emphasized. The role of technology in disaster preparedness, and of telecommunications in reaching people at a remote distance, could not be overemphasized. The welfare of internally displaced persons needed to be linked with that of refugees, the requirements of both getting the same level of protection and assistance.

The demand on multilateral agencies to address complex emergencies had become extraordinary in recent years, he said. Their capacity needed to be strengthened. Bilateral aid should never be at the expense of multilateral mechanisms. Donor countries should strengthen the effectiveness of partners in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee.

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