Abuja - Nigeria — Ministers in charge of Humanitarian Affairs in West Africa have adopted the ECOWAS Humanitarian Policy and Action Plan at their meeting that ended on Friday, 9th March, 2012 in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
The Ministers validated the draft report from an experts meeting that preceded the ministerial session. The experts in the recommendations stressed the need for Member States to create national agencies for the management of emergencies to be placed at a high-level of state apparatus. Member States are also urged to enforce the provisions of the humanitarian policy and action plan diligently and efficiently.
The ECOWAS Commission and Member States are to jointly ensure the integration of cross-cutting issues such as HIV/AIDS, sexual violence and gender, people with disabilities and other related issues in humanitarian strategies and action plans.
The Commission is charged with facilitating the harmonization and standardization of approaches to build effective disaster management and undertake missions to Member States to promote the implementation of the humanitarian policy and action plan. The ministers stressed the need for Member States to give priority to the provision of funds necessary for the functioning of the national agencies and the management of emergencies. They will also, in conjunction with the ECOWAS Commission, develop and implement plans for the monitoring and evaluation of the humanitarian policy and action plan.
Both parties are encouraged to fully explore the benefits of South-South cooperation in the implementation of the humanitarian policy and action plan and to promote the sharing of experiences for capacity building in the management of emergencies. The ECOWAS Commission is urged to strengthen the capacities of Member States, particularly in reducing disaster risk and response to emergencies for the effective implementation of the humanitarian policy and action plan. The Commission should also assist Member States in emergency situations and in identifying victims in disasters, while Member States are to ensure wide dissemination of the policy and action plan for effective implementation. The meeting was chaired by the Benin Minister of Interior, Public Security and Religious Affairs, Mr. Benedict Degla.
Speaking during the opening, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Gender, Dr. Adrienne Diop, emphasized the importance of humanitarian policy, which seeks to standardize actions in humanitarian affairs by the Member States by promoting a balanced link between humanitarian action, security and human development across the region. After the opening ceremony, the ministers, accompanied by the experts and Dr. Diop, paid a courtesy visit to the Benin President His Excellency Boni Yayi.
President Yayi, the current chair of the African Union used the opportunity to call for greater unity among African countries in general and West Africa in particular. He said the region faced numerous challenges individually and collectively, especially in disaster management, peace and security, adding that with unity of purpose these challenges could be overcome.
