ID :
32130
Tue, 11/25/2008 - 14:13
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/32130
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2009 Humanitarian Appeal launched in Abu Dhabi to raise US$7 billion to help 30 million people around the world
Abu Dhabi Nov 25, 2008 (WAM) - His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of UAE and President of the UAE Red Crescent Authority, yesterday hosted a global launch of the 2009 Humanitarian Appeal, in partnership with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
"We are delighted to welcome so many distinguished guests and host this important event with the United Nations, raising our voice on behalf of the millions of needy people across the globe. This demonstrates the UAE's ongoing commitment, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE, to supporting the joint efforts of the international humanitarian system," said His Highness Sheikh Hamdan in his opening speech.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Antonio Guterres, represented the UN system at the event, giving a keynote speech and calling on the international community to respond to the world's most pressing humanitarian crises.
He expressed gratitude to the UAE for hosting this launch, which is the first event of its kind in the region. This is an excellent initiative to raise awareness of and support for the 2009 Humanitarian Appeal, which calls for $7 billion in urgent humanitarian aid for 30 million people in 31 countries worldwide," said Mr. Guterres.
Guterres said the UAE's commitment to humanitarian efforts is based on the humanitarian legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
He called for a humanitarian rescue plan set on the model of current bailout plans aimed at rescuing the global financial system.
The Appeal is the outcome of the coordinated efforts of 360 aid organizations, including United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations and other international organizations, to meet the world's major humanitarian challenges in a strategic and effective way.
He stressed food is the most urgent humanitarian requirement today, followed by health care, new schools.
In Somalia, the humanitarian crisis reached a new low. 1 in 6 children are malnourished in South and East Somalia.
He slammed the Israeli siege on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Gaza in particular, because of the Israeli continuing blockade.
"With the combined threats of climate change and the ongoing food crisis, humanitarian needs are on the rise. It is clear that no single government or organization can meet these rising needs alone. The objective of the Humanitarian Appeal is to combine our efforts, and issue a Consolidated Appeal to achieve a stronger, collective response," Mr. Guterres added.
For his part, Dr Ali Al Ka'abi, Secretary of Red Crescent Authority (RCA) and representative of the international non-governmental organizations in the UAE said at this moment all hearts unite here in the UAE to face the unprecedented tragic humanitarian situation around the world.
He gave an overview of the UAE's humanitarian efforts citing operations by RCA, Zayed Foundation, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Foundation, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Foundation and others.
He said among the major challenges the world is facing today was the provision of enough food to millions of the hungry around the world, a situation which threaten to develop into a tragic crisis.
He cited H.H President's Khalifa's recent wheat grant to a number of countries around the world to help replenish stocks and face a looming food crisis.
The 2009 Humanitarian Appeal is the biggest Appeal ever launched since the creation of the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) in 1991. It comprises twelve consolidated appeals for the Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq and region, Kenya, the occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda, the West African region, and Zimbabwe.
The Abu Dhabi global launch was held in parallel with the launch in Geneva on 19 November; it is the first time in several years that the Humanitarian Appeal has been launched in a city other than Geneva or New York.
"We are delighted to welcome so many distinguished guests and host this important event with the United Nations, raising our voice on behalf of the millions of needy people across the globe. This demonstrates the UAE's ongoing commitment, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE, to supporting the joint efforts of the international humanitarian system," said His Highness Sheikh Hamdan in his opening speech.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Antonio Guterres, represented the UN system at the event, giving a keynote speech and calling on the international community to respond to the world's most pressing humanitarian crises.
He expressed gratitude to the UAE for hosting this launch, which is the first event of its kind in the region. This is an excellent initiative to raise awareness of and support for the 2009 Humanitarian Appeal, which calls for $7 billion in urgent humanitarian aid for 30 million people in 31 countries worldwide," said Mr. Guterres.
Guterres said the UAE's commitment to humanitarian efforts is based on the humanitarian legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
He called for a humanitarian rescue plan set on the model of current bailout plans aimed at rescuing the global financial system.
The Appeal is the outcome of the coordinated efforts of 360 aid organizations, including United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations and other international organizations, to meet the world's major humanitarian challenges in a strategic and effective way.
He stressed food is the most urgent humanitarian requirement today, followed by health care, new schools.
In Somalia, the humanitarian crisis reached a new low. 1 in 6 children are malnourished in South and East Somalia.
He slammed the Israeli siege on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Gaza in particular, because of the Israeli continuing blockade.
"With the combined threats of climate change and the ongoing food crisis, humanitarian needs are on the rise. It is clear that no single government or organization can meet these rising needs alone. The objective of the Humanitarian Appeal is to combine our efforts, and issue a Consolidated Appeal to achieve a stronger, collective response," Mr. Guterres added.
For his part, Dr Ali Al Ka'abi, Secretary of Red Crescent Authority (RCA) and representative of the international non-governmental organizations in the UAE said at this moment all hearts unite here in the UAE to face the unprecedented tragic humanitarian situation around the world.
He gave an overview of the UAE's humanitarian efforts citing operations by RCA, Zayed Foundation, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Foundation, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Foundation and others.
He said among the major challenges the world is facing today was the provision of enough food to millions of the hungry around the world, a situation which threaten to develop into a tragic crisis.
He cited H.H President's Khalifa's recent wheat grant to a number of countries around the world to help replenish stocks and face a looming food crisis.
The 2009 Humanitarian Appeal is the biggest Appeal ever launched since the creation of the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) in 1991. It comprises twelve consolidated appeals for the Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq and region, Kenya, the occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda, the West African region, and Zimbabwe.
The Abu Dhabi global launch was held in parallel with the launch in Geneva on 19 November; it is the first time in several years that the Humanitarian Appeal has been launched in a city other than Geneva or New York.
