The UAE hosted a high-level United Nations delegation headed by Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon at the launch of a special report on humanitarian aid activities around the world.

 

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said the UAE under the leadership of President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has emerged a frontrunner in international assistance and the number one globally in humanitarian aid.

 

He chaired the meeting with the UN delegation for humanitarian aid that was attended by high level dignitaries including Princess Haya bint Al-Hussein, chairperson of International Humanitarian City and wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Development and International Cooperation in the UAE. 

 

The meeting was also attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

 

“I extend my heartfelt thanks to Ban Ki-moon on his sincere efforts to address international issues. I also appreciate the decision of the United Nations to choose the United Arab Emirates and the emirate of Dubai for launching the report on its soil and among its people," said Sheikh Mohammed.

 

"This step is clear evidence of the global confidence in our nation, our emirate and our people who have been making every possible effort to stand by humanity, support truth, and confront all forms of injustice," he said.

 

"In order to bridge the gap in humanitarian aid needs, it is necessary to consolidate international efforts, improve efficiency of humanitarian work, involve private sector and establish good governance in the countries that need help,” he added.

 

"The UAE has topped the list of donor countries in the world compared to its national income. Through its humanitarian missions and innovative initiatives the country has proven its capacity to take up international causes that make a difference to people around the world," said Ban Ki-Moon.

 

"The UAE occupies a high place among people with whom its missions have worked and who have benefited from its aid. The country’s international credibility provides the UN work that is carried out from here - from the emirate of Dubai - with the requisite factors of success and sustainability,” he said.

 

Launching the report, Ban Ki-moon said: “The gap between the increasing numbers of people in need of assistance and sufficient resources to provide relief is rising. The world today spends close to $25 billion annually to provide part of the required assistance to save lives and the people in need. 

 

"Despite the generosity of many donors, there still remains a gap in the financing of humanitarian aids estimated at $15 billion. This report, prepared under my recommendation by a high-level panel in the United Nations, aims to bridge the gap between the growing humanitarian needs and the available resources through increased cooperation with the private sector and the expansion of the new role of donors and finding a way for financial innovation.”

 

"We live in an era of mega crises but as the title of the report indicates, we simply cannot fail. We need fresh thinking and the determination to take bold decisions. This report contributes to shaping new priorities for the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul in May,” he said.

 

The UN report focused on three areas to address the international humanitarian funding gap - shrinking the needs, growing the resource base for funding, and improving efficiency through a Grand Bargain between key humanitarian partners.

 

Its recommendations included reclassifying the eligibility criteria of the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA); far higher proportion of official development assistance should be directed to situations of fragility and protracted emergencies, oriented towards building resilience and reducing fragility; and triple the IDA’s Crisis Response Window and expand funding capacity for emergencies in other development finance institutions.

 

It also said governments should voluntarily sign up to a 'solidarity levy' mechanism at the World Humanitarian Summit to fund humanitarian aid; channel Islamic social finance and other instruments to humanitarian causes; and donors and aid organizations to commit jointly to change their working practices in a Grand Bargain. - TradeArabia News Service