Our World in 2017

ISSUE#1193 | January 2017
SOCIETY IN BLOOM
NEW EUROPE: OUR WORLD IN 2017
Page-41
www.neweurope.eu
by Christos Stylianides
European Commissioner for
Humanitarian Aid & Crisis
Management.
BELGIUM -BRUSSELS
Humanitarian crises have increased in
number, complexity and severity over
the last 25 years. Today, an estimated 250
million people are affected by humanitarian
crises worldwide. The ongoing conflicts in
Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and elsewhere
have created an unprecedented level of
humanitarian tragedy.
In Europe and in our neighbourhood,
the refugee crisis still remains the most
important challenge. And humanitarian
needs are further exacerbated by the effect
of climate change.
A lot has been done the past year to
mitigate the suffering of vulnerable people
and respond to the growing needs. Of course,
we can never predict the unpredictable. But
one thing is certain: 2017 will be another
hugely challenging year for the global
humanitarian community. In light of this,
what are the main humanitarian priorities
for next year?
Syria: Soon entering the 7th year of
fighting, the Syrian conflict is without a
doubt the largest humanitarian tragedy
since World War II. More than 11 million
people displaced inside Syria and beyond
its borders. The horrific fighting in Aleppo
alone has triggered additional massive
displacements of civilians. Sadly, this
conflict looks far from over.
The EU has responded to this
unprecedented crisis from the outset. More
than 9 billion Euros in assistance have been
mobilised by the EU and its Member States.
But humanitarian needs also extend to
neighbouring host countries. Five million
Syrians fled to Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon,
Iraq and Egypt.
In Lebanon, every fourth inhabitant is
now a Syrian refugee. Over three million
refugees are hosted in Turkey. This makes
Turkey the host country with the largest
refugee population in the world.
The Syria crisis will certainly continue
to be a political and humanitarian priority
in 2017.
Iraq: There is no question that Iraq is at a
critical juncture. The battle for Mosul is still
in progress and its outcome will determine
the future of Iraq. The EU is at the forefront
of the humanitarian response in Iraq with a
total of 159 million Euros in 2016. The first
in a series of planes delivering EU aid for
Mosul have already arrived in Iraq.
The military campaign in Mosul is
unfolding now but we have been preparing
for months. I have visited the country four
times since the beginning of my mandate
to make sure that we were prepared to
respond to the massive needs in Mosul and
elsewhere in the country.
Through humanitarian aid, provided
to all Iraqis regardless of their background,
the EU is also contributing to the process
of reconciliation. A difficult but necessary
Humanitarian priorities
for the EU in 2017
Children flash the victory sign from one of the houses in Salah al-Din neighborhood, east of Aleppo, Syria, 16 December 2016. EPA/STR
undertaking in order for the Iraqis to have
a hopeful future.
Daesh, however, must be defeated not
only militarily, but also on the ideological
battleground. We must defeat the ideology
of terror, cultural destruction, intolerance
and division. This is paramount for national
reconciliation in Iraq.
Africa: the Northeast Nigeria and Lake
Chad crisis has been labelled by the UN
as the "largest humanitarian crisis on the
African continent". Boko Haram violence is
one of the main reasons that have led to this
massive crisis, with acute under nutrition
spreading.
Children are particularly affected.
Access of humanitarian aid is a real challenge
because of insecurity, with continued Boko
Haram attacks. The EU has been very active
in bringing this crisis to the international
front and has advocated stepping up global
support.
The situation in South Sudan has also
worsened dramatically with escalation of
ethnic violence. The abuses are perpetrated
by all parties to the conflict and are often
combined with atrocities against innocent
civilians constituting a crime against
humanity. The UN has already warned of
the potential for genocide.
Refugee crisis: the refugee crisis
remains the most important challenge
Europe has faced next only to the financial
crisis. Since January 2015, more than 1
million migrants and refugees have reached
European shores. To respond to this crisis
the EU has developed a comprehensive
strategy which includes:
(a) The EU-Turkey agreement.
Despite the criticisms and problems, the
implementation of this agreement is key
to tackle effectively the refugee crisis.
Hence, EU and Turkey must continue and
strengthen their cooperation on this front.
(b) The mechanism for Emergency
Support inside Europe which aims at
providing basic humanitarian assistance to
refugees and migrants in Member States
whose capacities are overstretched.
The refugee crisis, however, is not only
European. It is global and it requires a
global response. No country can tackle it
alone. Hence, one of the major challenges
and priorities in 2017 is to strengthen our
collective response and solidarity.
Education in Emergencies: All of
us recognize that children are the most
vulnerable victims of humanitarian
crises. Every day these children are out of
school means a step closer to risks: sexual
exploitation, forced marriages, forced
labour, forced recruitment, radicalisation.
At the same time it means lack of prospects
for the future and new lost generations.
Something we cannot allow to happen.
Since the beginning of my mandate,
education in emergencies has been one of
my major priorities. Last year more than 2.3
million children have benefitted from our
support in 44 countries affected by crises
around the world.
In 2016 we quadrupled our support to
this cause. In 2017 we will go even further:
6% of the EU's humanitarian aid budget will
support education in emergencies. This is
my new commitment. Education is not a
privilege. It is the right of every child across
the world which has also become a basic
need.
With challenges like these, in 2017 the
world is likely to experience more conflicts
and disasters. Needs already continue to
increase dramatically while the resources
for humanitarian assistance remain limited.
Therefore, we must adapt the way we
provide aid in order to be able to respond
swiftly and effectively. The humanitarian aid
system must become more prepared, more
coordinated and more flexible. This can be
done by providing more predictability and
reducing as much as possible administrative
and bureaucratic barriers. Moreover, we
must build new partnerships, such as
those with the private sector, and stronger
linkages between humanitarian aid and
development.
2017 will be a determining year for the
international humanitarian community.
Time for action is of the essence.