By IANS
United Nations : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed condolences for the people of Bangladesh affected by a devastating cyclone, and has called upon world powers and the UN agencies to effectively discharge their humanitarian responsibilities.
Addressing a special General Assembly session on ways to coordinate relief assistance in disasters, UAE’s permanent envoy to the UN Ahmed Al-Jarman expressed his country’s solidarity with the people of Bangladesh where thousands have been killed and millions rendered homeless by Cyclone Sidr, and called for comprehensive relief and rehabilitation assistance to the country.
Referring to the increasing severity and recurrence of natural calamity as a result of climate change, Al-Jarman underscored the need for a greater degree of coordination among donor countries in organising relief and rehabilitation.
The need is more pronounced in the developing countries that are often hopelessly vulnerable to natural disasters of the magnitude of Cyclone Sidr and poorly equipped to cope with them, he said and cited a recent UN report warning of increasing severity of natural calamities in days to come.
“The reports of the Secretary General on this item indicate that the demand for humanitarian activities undertaken by the UN and its partners, NGOS concerned with humanitarian affairs, is expected to grow during the coming years due to the expected increase in the number of natural disasters, the severity of which increases,” Al-Jarman said.
“Its disastrous impact will be compounded by poverty, armed conflicts, the spread of diseases and the growing increase in numbers of displaced persons in many parts of the world will compound its impact,” the envoy warned.
He also reminded the developing countries, at the same time, that they must implement their development strategy to build proper infrastructure and acquire greater effectiveness in disaster management.
“Developing countries should bear their responsibilities to the implementation of these strategies while developed countries should fulfil their commitment to take all necessary measures to assist them in building their national capacities to deal with natural disasters and the aftermath of wars,” Al-Jarman said.
“We further stress that it is necessary that the UN humanitarian agencies and their partners should be allowed, by governments and relevant authorities, access during wars and natural disasters to those in need of assistance and measures should be taken to ensure the safety of humanitarian assistance employees,” he stated.