ECOWAS, UN to Deepen Collaboration in Addressing Humanitarian Challenges

11 July 2011
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Economic Community of West African States (Abuja)
press release

Abuja — The United Nations is to send a technical mission to work with the ECOWAS Commission for the elaboration of a mechanism for responding to humanitarian challenges in the ECOWAS region, the UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordination, Baroness Valerie Amos, has assured. Speaking during a courtesy visit to the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja on 6th July 2011, Baroness Amos pledged her organization's support and contribution towards addressing the vulnerability of people in West Africa and opportunities through enhanced partnership between humanitarian and development actors at national and regional levels.

The ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Gender, Dr. Adrienne Diop who received the UN official on behalf of the President of the Commission, Ambassador James Gbeho, welcomed the idea of deepening collaboration between the two organizations. She also stressed the need for the establishment of appropriate mechanisms for tackling humanitarian issues, including Emergency Response and Disaster Risk Reduction platforms and a coordinated approach to assistance with partners such as the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and others. Dr. Diop highlighted the crucial role of the Humanitarian Depot in Mali to the realization of ECOWAS' aspirations in ensuring timely support during emergencies and for more UN assistance to ECOWAS Member States during crisis. Baroness Amos had, in her entourage, Mr. Doauda Toure, the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria and other OCHA officials.

Read the original article on Ecowas.

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