As delivered
Madam President,
As this is my last briefing to the Council, it is in many ways fitting that it is on Syria as during my time as Emergency Relief Coordinator it is the crisis that has taken more of my time and attention, and that of this Council, than any other crisis in the world. It is the Syria crisis and its consequences which have led me to the belief that this Council and the international community more broadly, needs to do more to protect civilians and ensure greater accountability for violations of international humanitarian law.
Madam President,
Since my last briefing to the Security Council in November 2014, the number of Iraqis requiring humanitarian assistance has grown to over 8.2 million people, an increase of 3 million in five months. This includes some 2.8 million people that have been internally displaced since the conflict began in Anbar Governorate in January 2014. Half of the displaced are children. All 18 governorates in Iraq have been affected. Iraq also continues to host some 250,000 refugees from Syria.
(New York, 12 May 2015): I welcome the beginning of the humanitarian pause in Yemen which should enable humanitarian agencies and their partners to step up the delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance to people in desperate need.
I call on all parties to the conflict to respect this vital pause in hostilities. This pause will provide a respite for civilians and allow the delivery of food, medical supplies and other essential items to people who have been trapped in conflict zones.
(New York, 11 May 2015) I note the announcement of a humanitarian pause in Yemen by the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the US Secretary of State on behalf of the coalition, to start tomorrow. I hope that reports of agreement to the humanitarian pause by the Houthis are accurate. Given the deteriorating humanitarian situation on the ground in Yemen with hundreds of thousands of vulnerable civilians trapped in the middle of fighting and unable to access lifesaving aid it is essential that this pause materialise.
(London/New York, 26 April 2015) Our thoughts are with the people of Nepal as they deal with the loss of life and devastation caused by Saturday’s earthquake and aftershocks.
The information is still incomplete but the estimated number killed has now risen to more than 2,200 people, and more than 5,800 people are believed to have been injured. Sadly, it is likely that these figures will rise as humanitarian workers reach the more remote areas near the epicentre of the earthquake.
(New York, 21 April 2015) Yesterday's horrific attack on UNICEF staff in Somalia is a reminder of the dangers faced by many humanitarian aid workers on a daily basis. Aid workers are increasingly targets, with serious consequences for our ability to reach people who urgently need help. Attacks on humanitarian workers can constitute a war crime and are in total violation of international humanitarian and human rights law.
Those who perpetrate these attacks must be held accountable.
(New York/London, 2 April 2015) I am extremely concerned for the safety of civilians caught in the middle of fierce fighting in Yemen. I call on all parties involved to meet their obligations under international law and do their utmost to protect the ordinary women, children and men who are suffering the consequences of the conflict.
As Delivered
I join the Secretary-General in thanking His Highness, the Amir of Kuwait for his generosity in agreeing to host this third pledging conference to support the people of Syria and neighbouring countries. I also thank the Government and the people of Kuwait for their continued commitment to the people of Syria. As a result of the leadership of His Highness the Amir, Kuwait continues to play a leading role in humanitarian response efforts across the world and provides a platform for debate and engagement on key humanitarian challenges.
As delivered
Thank you all for being here today to stand in solidarity with the people of Syria. I thank the International Islamic Charitable Organization of Kuwait for hosting today’s event, and for your tireless efforts to support Syrian refugees, particularly at your refugee villages in Turkey and Jordan.
WHO: Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
WHAT: Visit to the State of Kuwait
WHEN: 30-31 March 2015
WHERE: Bayan Palace, Kuwait City
UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos is scheduled to participate in the Third International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria in Kuwait on 31 March.
Mr. President,
We are in the fifth year of a war in Syria characterized by breathtaking levels of savagery and it is just over one year since this Council adopted resolution 2139. The resolution demanded action by the parties to the conflict, to cease attacks against civilians and facilitate humanitarian access to those in need. We had all hoped that the resolution would compel the parties to reduce the violence and lead to a significant improvement in the situation of people in Syria.
By any measure, however, the situation in Syria has dramatically worsened.
I am very pleased to be here today at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia to share some thinking on the future of humanitarian action.
As delivered
Thank you for inviting me to address today’s important meeting.
We meet today at a time of seemingly unprecedented violence and intolerance in our world. From, for example, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Mali, Myanmar and Nigeria, we face major challenges in combatting extremism and promoting understanding between communities.
Nairobi, Kenya, 9 February 2015
As delivered
Your Excellency Ambassador Mahboub M. Maalim,
Excellencies,
Ministers,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Mr. Whitaker, the UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation, and I have just completed a three-day visit to South Sudan.
Thank you for being here at such short notice. My remarks are a way of introduction to what we have seen during our visit.
I am visiting South Sudan with UNESCO Special Envoy Forest Whitaker. We wanted to see for ourselves the day-to-day impact of the crisis of people caught in the middle of fighting.
Yesterday, we travelled to Ayod County in Jonglei State. People are desperate for peace. They are tired of living in fear. Many have had to flee several times. They are exhausted. They lack water; they are extremely worried for their children, who are not in school and at risk of being recruited into armed groups. Sexual violence is rife. All people want to live in safety, security and stability.
WHO: Valerie Amos, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and the Emergency Relief Coordinator, and Forest Whitaker, the UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation
WHAT: Press Briefing on their visit to South Sudan
WHEN: Monday, 9 February 2015 at 8:45AM
WHERE: UNOCHA Compound Main Conference Room, Juba, South Sudan
WHO: Valerie Amos, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and the Emergency Relief Coordinator, and Forest Whitaker, the UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation
WHAT: Mission to South Sudan and Kenya
WHEN: 6-9 February 2015
WHERE: Juba and Jonglei State, South Sudan Nairobi, Kenya
(Budapest, 3 February 2015): UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said today that increased collaboration on a global scale is imperative to cope with rising levels of humanitarian need.
“There are 78 million people in 31 countries requiring humanitarian support to survive. They are the most vulnerable people in the world and that number will grow as natural disasters strike during the year,” said USG Amos at the opening of a regional consultation meeting in Budapest ahead of the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit.
As delivered
I would like to add my welcome to that of Minister Péter Szijjártó [Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary] to this regional consultation in preparation for the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit. My particular thanks to Hungary for hosting and Finland and ECHO for overseeing the preparations. I am pleased to see representatives from so many partners and sectors here today – governments, regional organizations, civil society, humanitarian practitioners, people affected by crisis – all gathered together in this room.
