HI Canada Joins UN Humanitarian Chief in Ottawa Discussions
HI Canada Interim Director General Alan Quinn met with UN Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher during a roundtable discussion in Ottawa on global humanitarian challenges.
Left to right: Tom Fletcher, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, and Alan Quinn, Interim Director General of Humanity & Inclusion Canada.
Addressing Growing Global Humanitarian Needs
During a recent visit to Ottawa, United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher met with government representatives, humanitarian organizations, and civil society leaders to discuss the growing humanitarian needs driven by conflict, displacement, hunger, and climate-related crises around the world.
Fletcher highlighted the importance of sustained international support for people affected by crises in countries such as Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, Haiti, and Afghanistan, while emphasizing the need to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilian populations.
HI Canada: A Voice for Inclusion
Alan Quinn, Interim Executive Director of HI Canada, joined fellow humanitarian leaders at a roundtable with Mr Fletcher to exchange perspectives on the future of humanitarian action and the urgent challenges facing humanitarian organizations worldwide.
The discussions highlighted the growing need for inclusive humanitarian responses that take into account the barriers faced by persons with disabilities and other marginalized communities during emergencies and conflict.
Disability inclusion must be a core component of humanitarian planning and response, ensuring that people with disabilities are not overlooked when crises occur. Humanitarian assistance is most effective when it is accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the diverse needs of all affected communities, leaving no one behind.
Raising the Alarm on Civilian Protection
HI Canada also raised the issue of civilian protection, highlighting the impact of new weapons like drones on civilian lives and humanitarian responses.
HI is witnessing the harm caused by these weapons against civilians in a number of countries. We are also concerned about the impact of drones on access to humanitarian aid and the safety of humanitarian workers.
During the meeting HI called for compliance with international humanitarian law, including the implementation of the EWIPA Political Declaration and the disarmament treaties; for protection of humanitarian personnel and better documentation of civilian harm from drones.
