Ministers Dion and Bibeau mark World Humanitarian Day
Statement
August 19, 2016 – Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today issued the following statement:
“The world is facing major humanitarian crises. As a result of conflict and disaster, more than 130 million people need humanitarian assistance to survive. Sixty-three million people have been forced to leave their homes; the average length of time that people are displaced is 17 years. Parents cannot feed their children, and girls cannot go to school. Children become the targets of violence and are subjected to early, child and forced marriage and other forms of exploitation and abuse.
“At the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit in May, Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, called on all nations to commit to a new Agenda for Humanity. At the summit, Canada announced $605.5 million in funding to respond to the 2016 global humanitarian appeals, strengthen emergency response, ensure child protection in humanitarian crises and build long-term resilience to food insecurity.
“Given the scale of current needs, all partners must work together to develop innovative programs that better address vulnerability. Canada is changing how we work to ensure that every dollar goes as far as possible to reach those in need. For example, the $1.1 billion Canada pledged for Syria and the region will be disbursed over three years, allowing for better humanitarian planning and results by, for example, enabling host countries and communities, such as Lebanon and Jordan, to deliver adequate services to large numbers of refugees and displaced people.
“And as a member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Group on Every Woman Every Child, Canada will lend support to the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, especially in fragile and humanitarian contexts. Canada also advocates for full access to humanitarian assistance and the protection of medical facilities, as it has done for Syria as a member of the International Syria Support Group.
“World Humanitarian Day also acknowledges the courage and commitment of aid workers, who stand at the front line of war and disaster every day, despite the danger, to deliver assistance to those who need it most. Over the past 20 years, nearly 4,000 aid workers have been killed, wounded or kidnapped in the line of duty. Canada defends humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law and is a strong voice for the safety and security of humanitarian workers and for the principled humanitarian action that allows our partners to safely reach those who are most in need.”
Contacts
Chantal Gagnon
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
343-203-1851
chantal.gagnon@international.gc.ca
Bernard Boutin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
343-203-5977
bernard.boutin@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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Hon. Stéphane Dion Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau Global Affairs Canada Government and Politics