Africa-Press – Botswana. The creation of an African Humanitarian Agency to mobilize resources and respond to the constant food crises on the continent centered, on Friday (27), in Malabo, the interventions at the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the continent, during which it was discussed the humanitarian situation in Africa.
Among the African leaders was the Angolan President, João Lourenço, who guided the sessions as one of the vice-presidents of the Bureau of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, due to Libya’s unavailability.
In the opening speech of the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Humanitarian Issues and Donor Conference, the Head of State of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, defended a new African action towards the realization of the objectives that have the well-being as a goal. of populations.
For the host statesman of the event, the humanitarian crises in Africa are unbearable realities, since the “cradle of Humanity continent has several raw materials for the intended development”. inspiration for knowledge, considering that it has conditions to overcome the challenges to develop itself, as it has several valences.
“Africa cannot be manipulated by other powers in the world. It is never too late to recover the right that belongs to our continent. Africa suffered the horrors of colonization and this gives strength to change the course of history. of Africa is in the hands of its children. You cannot condition the continent’s development”, he reinforced.
Importance Of The Agency
With an offer of two million dollars from the Republic of Congo to the future African Humanitarian Agency, during yesterday’s sessions at the Sipopo Conference Center in Malabo, the need to help populations in extreme poverty on the continent was highlighted.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, president of the African Union Commission, considered, in his opening speech, that the holding of this summit shows the importance given to the humanitarian problem in Africa.
Data from United Nations agencies indicate that 113 million people are awaiting emergency humanitarian assistance this year, which represents about 10% of the total population in Africa.
From East Africa to the Horn of Africa, he said there were four million refugees, of which 75% were affected by the 2021 humanitarian food crisis. than five million people are food insecure.
Moussa Mahamat noted that in West and Central Africa, 51 million people are food insecure, the highest level since 2016, while two million internally displaced people in Africa are registered, which represents a 30% increase compared to 2016. to 2021, without taking into account the five million displaced people in the Lake Chad basin region.
He also reported that in North Africa, 14 million people need food assistance, complaining that this “scenario is not satisfactory”, in addition to pointing out two aggravating factors of the situation.
“On the one hand, the reduction in support caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, on the other, the pressure exerted by the warming of the planet, whose effects translate into climate change, which are characterized by droughts and prolonged uncontrollable floods”. difficulties, Moussa Faki Mahamat defended that the UA must find solutions to improve the living conditions of the populations. “If nothing is done, the situation could worsen”, he warned.
In the diplomat’s view, it is necessary to activate African solidarity, as well as the importance of unity for inter-aid. “This summit aims to find solutions to reduce the suffering of the continent’s IDPs. It is hoped that the appeal to donors will be in line with the concerns expressed by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, in his 2021 report entitled ‘ Our Common Program, so as not to leave anyone out”, he recalled.
Data Shocks UN
Martin Griffith, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, was shocked by the current situation in Africa and therefore considered the creation of an African Humanitarian Agency to be essential and welcome.
Based on data available in international reports, he admitted that a fifth of the African population is malnourished, despite the efforts indicated by leaders and heads of government to protect and improve the situation. Indeed, Martin Griffith pledged United Nations support for the future agency.
African nations are facing one of the most complex situations in history, and in this regard, Griffith stressed that many cases are beyond the control of statesmen, namely, pandemics, however, “the shocking level of extreme hunger in continent, especially in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, concerns everyone”.
The UN official stressed that conflicts affect and threaten decades of development. Therefore, with the lack of essential goods, an African humanitarian agency has the potential to make all the difference, as “it can always go further”, at a time when it hopes to be a partner in this collective experience.
For Griffith, the current crisis requires that we do not stop fighting for the development of basic services. Speaking on behalf of the humanitarian community, he said that this generosity and support from Governments to local communities is the foundation of humanitarian support and that is why the UN is in Malabo to help.
“Perhaps these threats are also opportunities to strengthen resilience and help the poor out of poverty in the long term. The people of the continent are aware and perhaps only need us for resources and solidarity. And more importantly than ever, respect. The world with resources to wage wars must have the means to save lives. This crisis of wars that we are witnessing forces us to work more and more on values such as humanitarian actions, solidarity and good governance”, he concluded.
Macky Sall Calls For Inclusive Development
About 280 million people are in precarious food conditions in Africa, with emphasis on women and children, informed yesterday, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, the Senegalese Head of State and acting President of the African Union, at the opening ceremony of the Summit. Assembly on Humanitarian Issues and Donor Conferences.
Macky Sall said that similar cases need to be prevented in the future, with the need to act immediately to resolve crises. He defended, for this, an inclusive development so that each of the citizens has the right to the resources of their country.
The President of the African Union reiterated that we cannot wait any longer for the continent to act: “the basis of Africa must be the union of all. Terrorism is a scourge and calls for the mobilization of support and new methods of combat. tomorrow (today) with more subsidies”.
As for extreme poverty, Macky Sall cited one of the UN reports, according to which, by 2030, 118 million Africans will be at risk, due to high sea levels, floods and other phenomena.
“What is intended is a better response to the problems of the continent”, he reaffirmed, before asking President João Lourenço to direct the work and return to Senegal, where national mourning is registered, following the death of more than 20 children in a hospital. .
This Saturday’s agenda includes the holding of the 16th Extraordinary Session of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Governments in Africa.
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