Statement by Ms Fleur Davies, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations General Assembly regarding strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations and adoption of the resolution, Earthquake in Haiti: humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and rehabilitation as a result of the earthquakes’ devastating effects. Delivered on 22 Jabuary 2010.
(as delivered)
Madame President
Five years ago this week, we gathered in this chamber to express condolences for all those affected by the earthquake and tsunamis that struck the Indian Ocean region on 26 December 2004.
Today, the General Assembly gathers again, following Haiti’s terrible natural disaster, to offer our condolences to the victims and their families, and to demonstrate that Haiti has the support of the international community in this dark hour.
Madame President
This resolution signals that we, the member states of the UN, are committed to providing the assistance Haiti needs in a coordinated and effective way, from the immediate relief phase, through early recovery, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and development. Australia is pleased to be a co-sponsor of this resolution.
The resolution we have adopted today stresses the importance of strengthening Haiti’s disaster preparedness capacity and reducing its vulnerability to natural disasters. It is crucial that in re-building Haiti, we build back better, and integrate disaster risk reduction into all development strategies – helping to avoid another disaster of this magnitude.
Madame President
Australia has so far pledged A$15 million in humanitarian assistance, which will be channelled via the World Food Programme, OCHA, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, the International Federation of the Red Cross, and NGOs. We will consider further contributions towards Haiti’s longer term reconstruction. Our support demonstrates the strong concern of the Australian community for the desperate situation of Haiti’s people.
Madame President
We all continue to grieve for the valiant UN staff who lost their lives in the course of duty. In spite of their own losses, MINUSTAH and the UN country team immediately set to work to help the Haitian people. The importance of the UN’s role in the coordination of humanitarian assistance has been particularly clear in this emergency, and in extremely difficult conditions, the UN team have done a remarkable job. We commend their efforts.
We recognize in particular the role of UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes and all of the OCHA staff involved in the coordination of assistance to Haiti, both on the ground, and in New York and Geneva.
Thank you.