[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-76px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
8 December 2022<\/b><\/p>\n
[Pre-recorded video]<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n
It brings me no joy to share with you that humanitarian needs are at an all-time high.<\/p>\n
We were told that 2022 would be the worst year for humanitarian needs, but the forecast for 2023 has scarcely improved.<\/p>\n
Recent years have seen a cascade of overlapping, intersecting and recurring global challenges.<\/p>\n
The General Assembly is in crisis management mode.<\/p>\n
From the wide-ranging effects of COVID-19, through the boding climate emergency, to rekindled geopolitical tensions and full-blown wars \u2013 these challenges must be addressed as a whole.<\/p>\n
These crises converge, and they exacerbate human suffering all over the globe.<\/p>\n
A burden disproportionately borne by the most vulnerable segments of our 8 billion constituents: minorities, migrants, refugees, the internally displaced, and, in many cases, women, girls and children, to name but a few.\u00a0\u00a0<\/s><\/p>\n
The gravity of the challenges we face is further supercharged by global inequalities.<\/p>\n
The result is an acute disparity in people\u2019s ability to cope with and recover from emergencies.<\/p>\n
If we do not step up to address humanitarian needs, our world will end up in a perpetual and untreatable state of humanitarian emergency.<\/span><\/p>\n As it stands, the growth of global needs will painfully outpace the increase of global resources \u2013 leaving an inundated humanitarian system ever more struggling to meet even a fraction of needs.<\/p>\n But, ladies and gentlemen, you know as well as I do that none\u00a0<\/i>of this is new.<\/p>\n The root causes of humanitarian crises are still the same: inequality, systematic human rights violations, underdevelopment, weak governance, and, quite often, indolence to do good.<\/p>\n The choices, commitments, and actions taken by leaders today can reduce the vulnerability and the needs of tomorrow. But that requires Member States to move away from ideologically driven decisions and to adopt data and science-based solutions.<\/p>\n To tackle the dramatic rise in humanitarian needs, we need an international humanitarian system that\u00a0<\/i>embodies humanitarian values and principles.<\/p>\n A system that strengthens community resilience and reinforces local responses.<\/p>\n A system that acts early and effectively, focuses on those most at risk, saves lives, and reduces humanitarian need.<\/p>\n I hope that your conversations today will put the spotlight on the concrete steps to address the humanitarian needs of tomorrow.<\/p>\n And that you will follow the advice of the early American patriot Patrick Henry: \u201cnever let your door be closed to the voice of suffering humanity\u201d.<\/p>\n In that spirit, I wish you every success, and I thank you.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 8 December 2022 [Pre-recorded video] \u00a0 Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, It brings me no joy to share with you that humanitarian needs are at an all-time high. We were told […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" 10 November 2022<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\r\n Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\r\n Afghanistan is in crisis. It is in many crises.<\/p>\r\n It has been 15 months since the Taliban consolidated control over the country.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Its economy is in ruins. The humanitarian situation is disastrous.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Two-thirds of the population is hungry.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Girls and women are banned from learning, having a job or getting proper medical care.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n The country is awash with heroin and opium.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Organized crime and terrorist organizations are thriving once again.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Afghanistan is facing complex and interlinked challenges that the Taliban have shown they cannot \u2013 or would not \u2013 solve.<\/u><\/span><\/p>\r\n It is time to support the Afghan people with concrete solutions that place their needs front and center.<\/p>\r\n It is true that some problems will require some time to resolve.<\/p>\r\n But there are actions the Assembly can take to change the paradigm now.<\/p>\r\n I would like you to consider one solution through solidarity.<\/p>\r\n The UN humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan \u2013 which requires $4.4 billion US dollars \u2013 is only half funded.<\/p>\r\n With winter weather just weeks away, I encourage Member States to provide urgent support to help reduce the $2.3 billion dollar shortfall.<\/p>\r\n Let\u2019s remind ourselves of the old saying from Afghanistan: \u201cA real friend is one who takes the hand of his friend in times of distress and helplessness.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Excellencies,<\/p>\r\n Afghanistan has a rich history of scientific achievement.<\/p>\r\n I encourage the country\u2019s reengagement with the international science community.<\/p>\r\n And\u00a0to allow women who used to be respected members of the country\u2019s science community to resume their research and their studies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Afghanistan is now the only state in the world that would deny girls their full right to education.<\/p>\r\n The prospect of girls\u2019 education has been left to uncertainty amid seemingly random edicts from the Taliban.<\/p>\r\n This time last year, Fawzia Koofi, the first woman Deputy Speaker of the Afghan Parliament, recalled her dream of one day addressing the UN as the President of Afghanistan.<\/p>\r\n She said:\u00a0\u201cWith me, millions of girls and women in Afghanistan had this dream that now they think will never come true.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Dreams of becoming President have been replaced by the reality of child marriage. Arrests if women and girls leave their home without a male chaperone.<\/p>\r\n I reiterate my call for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of all Afghans, especially women and girls.<\/p>\r\n Similarly, I urge the Taliban to ensure the safety of all Afghans, regardless of gender, ethnic background, religious belief or political affiliation.<\/p>\r\n To protect journalists and civil society members.<\/p>\r\n To allow unhindered humanitarian aid, and to cooperate with humanitarian workers.<\/p>\r\n We expect the Taliban to make good on the commitments they made to the international community.\u00a0To show honesty through\u00a0concrete action.<\/p>\r\n Excellencies,<\/p>\r\n The dramatic changes of 2021 have taken a massive toll on Afghanistan\u2019s economy and profoundly widened many security risks.<\/p>\r\n<\/s><\/p>\n