The Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government today commenced its 15th Extraordinary Session dedicated to addressing humanitarian challenges in Africa.
While making his opening address to the extraordinary humanitarian summit and pledging conference, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed the gratitude to all traditional and new partners for their active commitment, which will soon be confirmed by their financial contributions. The Chairperson noted that the humanitarian emergencies in Africa are a permanent source of concern. "They are illustrated by figures and statistical data drawn up and compiled by the United Nations Specialised Agencies. In the 15 most affected Member States, 113 million people are waiting for emergency assistance in 2022".
Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat further noted that the African Union has developed normative and operational instruments to improve the living conditions of refugees and internally displaced persons on the continent. The Kampala Convention adopted in 2009 and the related Declaration, specifies the objectives and the modalities of action in favour of refugees and other people forced to move. "The paradox of humanitarianism lies in the discrepancy between the urgent nature of the situations of human distress to be taken care of and the poignant need to defer this care because of the lack of or insufficient financial resources," said the Chairperson of AUC.
Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat concluded by underlining the importance of the Extraordinary Humanitarian Summit, which will be followed by the donors' conference, adding that it demonstrates the African Union's firm determination to pursue to reduce the sufferings endured by refugees and internally displaced persons on the continent. "I am delighted that our appeal to the donors is in line with the concerns expressed by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres. In his Report, published in September 2021, entitled Our Common Agenda, he stresses, among other things, the need to leave no one behind ".
The President of the Republic of Senegal and Chairperson of the African Union, H.E. Macky Sall, noted the scale and persistence of humanitarian emergencies on the continent. "According to the United Nations Global Humanitarian Overview 2021 report, six of the most significant and urgent crises with alarming humanitarian consequences are found in Africa, with more than 30 million internally displaced people, refugees and asylum seekers". President Sall concluded by underscoring that the fate of millions of refugees, and IDPs calls for inclusive development, following the principles of social justice, so that each citizen feels heir to a part of the national resources.In his statement, H.E. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea asserted that the humanitarian situation leaves African countries in a stalemate. He further noted that with all the available resources on the continent, Africa is capable of solving humanitarian problems through solidarity. The opening session witnessed statements by Mr. Martin Griffiths, United Nations Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator and by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs. Aisha Halilu Buhari, who President of the African First Ladies Peace Mission on Humanitarian Situation in Africa.
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The summit is discussing the challenges affecting humanitarian assistance in Africa, advocating for sustainable financing for humanitarian needs, and mobilizing resources for humanitarian response. It will also endorse resilience programmes for populations affected by complex crises, famine, and other disasters.
