New York – Stephen O’Brien, the UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said the upcoming World Humanitarian Summit to be held in Turkey would lead to action to help millions of needy people worldwide.
Briefing UN newsmen on Tuesday in New York, O’Brien said that the summit, starting from May 23 to May 24, “is the first of its kind; it is the result of three years of consultations involving 23,000 people and more than 150 countries.”
According to him, global suffering is at its highest level since World War II, and 125 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance worldwide, and 60 million have been forcibly displaced.
He also told newsmen that another 218 million people have been affected by disasters each year in the past two decades, noting that the summit was an opportunity to build the political will to address these challenges.
He added that “unlike other summits, it is not where it is deliberately designed to be a pledging conference, although, clearly, some will come with pledges and they will be warmly welcomed and received.
“The summit is our generation’s opportunity to re-inspire the world with our humanitarian ambition, and the summit will give a voice to the voiceless and bring their hopes and aspirations to global leaders.
“The World Humanitarian Summit is our chance to end human suffering and create a world where no one needs to make impossible choices.
“Global leaders need to come to the Summit and take bold action, they have only once choice: Humanity.”
O’Brien also disclosed that 6,000 representatives from governments, civil society organisations, the private sector, aid agencies, affected communities and youth, would attend the summit. (PANA/NAN)
