Statement by Mr. MIYAMOTO Sogaku, Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, at the Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting on “Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers crossing borders on Land and at Sea: New Wave of Crisis”
2023/7/13
(As delivered)
Madam Chair,
I thank the UNHCR and IOM briefers for their briefings, and also take note of the briefings by the civil society briefers.
Today the world faces an unprecedented level of refugee and migrant movements. Over 110 million people have been displaced due to conflict, violence, human rights abuses and persecution. Nearly 3 million people have been forced to flee their homes because of the conflict in Sudan in less than three months. The Mediterranean region is experiencing a rise in refugee and migrant movements, making it the world’s most dangerous migration route with the highest fatality rate.
We are also observing significant and complex displacement crises in various regions, including the Americas, Afghanistan, Syria, and Myanmar.
Contrary to what the Chair said, Japan has proactively addressed the refugee and migrant crisis, placing a strong emphasis on promoting human security. We will continue to actively engage with the international community to both alleviate the sufferings of refugees and displaced persons, providing emergency humanitarian assistance, and address the root causes of displacement by promoting the humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach. In line with this commitment, Japan will strive as a co-convenor to make the second Global Refugee Forum in December a successful event.
Madam Chair,
Addressing the root cause of a refugee crisis is seldom simple, but sometimes it is.
I am talking about Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, the top driver of displacement in 2022. This aggression resulted in a staggering 5.7 million refugees and over 8 million internally displaced people in Ukraine, constituting the fastest displacement crisis in the world, and the largest in Europe since World War II. Sadly, the recent collapse of the dam at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric power plant has further exacerbated this already catastrophic situation.
Russia must withdraw all of its troops and military equipment from Ukraine and respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
Meanwhile, Japan will continue to provide essential aid for the protection of displaced Ukrainians both inside and outside Ukraine. We reaffirm our resolute commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine. But, better still, this suffering can immediately end. It only takes one Permanent Member of the Security Council to make the obvious decision, as repeatedly called on by the overwhelming majority of the Member States.
I thank you.
I thank the UNHCR and IOM briefers for their briefings, and also take note of the briefings by the civil society briefers.
Today the world faces an unprecedented level of refugee and migrant movements. Over 110 million people have been displaced due to conflict, violence, human rights abuses and persecution. Nearly 3 million people have been forced to flee their homes because of the conflict in Sudan in less than three months. The Mediterranean region is experiencing a rise in refugee and migrant movements, making it the world’s most dangerous migration route with the highest fatality rate.
We are also observing significant and complex displacement crises in various regions, including the Americas, Afghanistan, Syria, and Myanmar.
Contrary to what the Chair said, Japan has proactively addressed the refugee and migrant crisis, placing a strong emphasis on promoting human security. We will continue to actively engage with the international community to both alleviate the sufferings of refugees and displaced persons, providing emergency humanitarian assistance, and address the root causes of displacement by promoting the humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach. In line with this commitment, Japan will strive as a co-convenor to make the second Global Refugee Forum in December a successful event.
Madam Chair,
Addressing the root cause of a refugee crisis is seldom simple, but sometimes it is.
I am talking about Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, the top driver of displacement in 2022. This aggression resulted in a staggering 5.7 million refugees and over 8 million internally displaced people in Ukraine, constituting the fastest displacement crisis in the world, and the largest in Europe since World War II. Sadly, the recent collapse of the dam at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric power plant has further exacerbated this already catastrophic situation.
Russia must withdraw all of its troops and military equipment from Ukraine and respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
Meanwhile, Japan will continue to provide essential aid for the protection of displaced Ukrainians both inside and outside Ukraine. We reaffirm our resolute commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine. But, better still, this suffering can immediately end. It only takes one Permanent Member of the Security Council to make the obvious decision, as repeatedly called on by the overwhelming majority of the Member States.
I thank you.