議題71「人道支援調整強化」に関する国連総会本会合における古本建彦参事官ステートメント
令和元年12月16日
(Check against delivery)
Mr. President,
The world is facing increasing trends in humanitarian needs, both in funding required and people targeted. The Global Humanitarian Overview estimates that in 2020, nearly 168 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection, and the funding required will amount to $28.8 billion. Humanitarian crises are becoming more complex and protracted. Conflicts, natural disasters and economic shocks have been major drivers of humanitarian crises, and in many cases, converge to intensify the situation on the ground.
Against this backdrop, Japan maintains the view that timely assistance is needed more than ever. At the beginning of the year 2019, Japan decided to extend $98 million of its supplementary budget to activities of UN and other organizations engaging in humanitarian assistance. This support was followed by various other assistance modalities. The Japan Disaster Relief Team was dispatched to Mozambique, DRC, Djibouti and Samoa, and we have made in-kind contributions in coordination with 7 countries under humanitarian situations.
I would like to highlight today one humanitarian situation in particular. The scale and complexity of the situation in Syria remains concerning. It is estimated that 11 million people will require humanitarian assistance in 2020. In this regard, Japan is proud to have announced just last week a new contribution of $14 million to 4 organizations in response to the situation in north-eastern Syria, part of which goes to the Syrian Humanitarian Fund, thus making Japan a donor for the Country Based Pooled Fund for the first time.
Mr. President,
Allow me to introduce one quote.
“I am very concerned by the gap which currently exists between humanitarian intervention during conflicts, and the beginning of long-term development programmes. We are particularly worried about this gap because very often recently returned refugees are among those who suffer most from the lack of resources available to build peace.”
This quote came from a statement on Human Security 20 years ago delivered by former High Commissioner for Refugees, Madame OGATA Sadako. She herself passed away in October, but her thoughts and actions on how to achieve a greater impact for the people on the ground are not obsolete. As I said earlier, humanitarian crises are becoming increasingly complex with a diverse array of root causes. Humanitarian organizations alone cannot address the whole spectrum of issues. Japan continues to be a strong advocate for the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, a concept rooted in the works of pioneers like Madame OGATA. In this regard, Japan welcomes the holding of the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva tomorrow, and intends to make a meaningful contribution in the area of the “nexus”.
Mr. President,
Application of innovation and technology is another key to face ever increasing needs on the ground. During the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 7) held in August, we organized a side event on sustainable agriculture in the digital age together with the AUC, African Development Bank, and WFP, where participants engaged in constructive discussions on Public-Private Partnerships and the use of innovative technologies. We are happy to have announced initiatives for introducing a virtual farmers’ market in Mozambique, and introducing ICT in rural communities in Tanzania.
Furthermore, in 2019, Japan led diverse discussions on humanitarian affairs in various I, including informal interactive discussions, and touched upon various topics including those previously mentioned, the need for further upholding International Humanitarian Law, gender approaches, and the impact of climate change, among many others. In the view of the challenges the international community faces, Japan remains committed to working together for meaningful assistance.
Finally, I would like conclude by addressing a tragic incident in Afghanistan this month which resulted in the death of Dr. NAKAMURA Tetsu, a Japanese medical doctor who dedicated over 30 years of his life in Afghanistan heading a civil society organization. I would like express my condolences for this loss as well my sincerest respect to the tireless efforts of all aid workers on the ground in the world’s humanitarian crises and precarious security situations.
Thank you very much.