World’s first humanitarian summit focuses on root causes of conflicts

World’s first humanitarian summit focuses on root causes of conflicts

ISTANBUL, May 23, 2016 (Xinhua) -- UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson (L) speaks to the reporters during a World Humanitarian Summit press conference in Istanbul, Turkey on May 23, 2016. The world's first-ever humanitarian summit is determined to focus more on the root causes of the ongoing conflicts rather than symptoms for their solutions, said UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson on Monday. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

ISTANBUL, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The world's first-ever humanitarian summit is determined to focus more on the root causes of the ongoing conflicts rather than symptoms for their solutions, said UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson on Monday.

Some leaders present for the World Humanitarian Summit joined a roundtable discussion on the issue of "political leadership to prevent and end conflicts," part of multi-faceted exchanges over how to make the current humanitarian aid system better to cope with the worst level of human sufferings since World War II.

Eliasson, speaking to reporters after the discussion, said there was "a great degree of unity" among the leaders about the fact that the international community has been focusing too much on the ongoing crises while underestimating the pre-conflict phase and conflict resolutions.

"We start to realize that the life of conflicts is much longer than we usually think of," he noted, saying the "burning houses and dying children" is only a small part of the whole conflict.

He said the world leaders have also seen the need to extend the definition of conflict in a way that would include "listening to the first vibration on the ground and act over that signal."

In Eliasson's view, prevention of conflicts is a competitive advantage of UN.

Xavier Bettel, prime minister of Luxembourg, told reporters that high spirit of solidarity in Europe will cross its borders and a "common will" will be soon adopted to overcome humanitarian crises.

Bettel also urged the international community to meet each year to assess progress being made so as to make the summit a real success.

Erastus Mwencha, deputy chairperson of African Union, told Xinhua that there is a strong need to develop a mechanism at the local level to deal with the needs of displaced people and to coordinate the humanitarian assistance in Africa.

He stressed the need for political leadership to help the 15 million people in need in Africa. "Otherwise the aid becomes a problem in itself," he added.

"Political leadership to prevent and end conflict" is considered as one of the most important commitments set by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for the Istanbul summit that involves delivering concrete policy and operational commitments.

The two-day summit is drawing some 5,200 participants, including 65 heads of state and government.

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ISTANBUL, May 23 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched a scheme Monday aiming to significantly improve the efficiency of humanitarian aid, as part of the efforts to bridge the funding gap, at the World's First Humanitarian Summit.

"This Grand Bargain is a major step forward in humanitarian financing," said Ban at a ceremony in Istanbul's Congress Center, where the World's First Humanitarian Summit took place. Full story

My comments:

     I hope the United Nations has a unit to investigate unfair election practices prevailing in underdeveloped and developing countries to prevent unrest or restless to take place or more serious happenings to occur   

     I hope the United Nations have read and gone through the petitions Sarawakians and Sabahans have submitted.  We Sarawakians and Sabahans are angry about how we are treated in the Federation of Malaysia.   

     The grave problems we face is the collusion between the political thugs of Barisan National of Sarawak or Sabah and those in Peninsular Malaya.  Thus hey have plundered and explolited Sarawak and Sabah at will since 1963.  The people in general are really angry about these unfair practices and treatments. 

     Besides the practices of election are densely corrupt and unfair.  Democracy is not upheld in Malaysia.  It is counted by the number of seats won not by the number of voters.  The tremor of this angry is felt everywhere except the rural areas where the people are shackled by ignorance and poverty. 

     I hope this unrest can be dealt with properly before it is developed into armed unrest.  Long years of unfairness and injustice are the main causes of unrest everywhere in the world.  Prove me wrong if you can.