First
of all, I would like to thank the Hong Kong Red Cross and the
Red Cross Society of China for its hospitality in hosting this
"Red Cross and Red Crescent Tsunami Response Forum".
We all know that your National Society immediately
came to the aid of those overwhelmed by this enormous
disaster. And now you are welcoming us in your home so that we
can coordinate our humanitarian intervention as appropriately
and effectively as possible.
You have shown us what a
serious commitment to solidarity means, involving yourselves
with determination so that millions of people can regain hope
for the future. We all join together in solidarity with the
victims and their families.
I would also like to
welcome all of you and express my gratitude to every one of
you here as representatives of National Societies of the Red
Cross and Red Crescent, the International Committee of the Red
Cross and the Federation Secretariat.
We are all here
today to help the National Societies of the countries which
suffered directly from the disaster. I would like to tell you,
on behalf of the whole Movement, that we will be with you for
as long as you deem it necessary. Just as you should be the
ones to guide our work in your countries. No one knows your
needs better than you.
We must fully respect the
National Societies in the countries where we carry out our
actions, and take heed of their priorities, bearing cultural
aspects and sensitivities in mind. This must be done within
the plans established by the international community whereby
any action that we undertake must be for the benefit of
victims, through medium and long-term actions.
Your
own National Societies must come out of this situation
reinforced and stronger. To the sorrow which any human being
must feel bound to express at so much suffering and
irreparable loss, I would like to make special mention of
volunteers of National Societies who were victims of this
tragedy.
Since 26 December, as we have felt the
destructive power of the disaster, even in remote places,
world public opinion roused itself from its slumber. And as
part of this international community, even in such a respected
and experienced organization as our own, more than ever before
in our history, we were made to feel our inadequacies due to
the immeasurable scale of the damage and the pain of this
natural disaster.
Precisely for this reason, and
consistent with our humanitarian commitment, on this occasion
too we must put together the most powerful response we can, to
tackle what is undeniably an extraordinary challenge for us
all. This disaster places us in front of an unprecedented
challenge to make the best possible use of the resources and
the trust that we have received from citizens around the
globe.
I would ask all of you to make a great effort,
in a spirit of loyal cooperation, in tackling the difficulties
that will no doubt arise, but which we must overcome together.
In the face of a human disaster which devastated us
all, the international community - governments, citizens and
institutions - have entrusted us with the task of deploying
all our resources, and working to our full potential, through
our International Movement, to take up the challenge, drawing
on our humanitarian experience and the advantage of our
universal presence. This is a tremendous responsibility for
all of us.
The International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies and its Secretariat has overall
responsibility for leading the continuation of relief
operations and drawing up recovery, rehabilitation and
reconstruction programmes on a vast scale in the countries
affected. Today we estimate that our commitment will have to
last at least until the end of the present decade.
We
are therefore preparing to embark on the greatest humanitarian
undertaking that our Institution can remember. We must keep
firmly in mind, that our efforts have to match up to the
unprecedented reactions of the international community which,
trusting in the Red Cross and Red Crescent, has placed in our
hands an unprecedented amount of resources collected. In this
regards, we now have a double responsibility.
On the
one hand we must coordinate the most appropriate operational
mechanisms to carry out our humanitarian work. This
coordination has to be done in accordance with two principles:
• First, the maximum respect to the National Societies
where the actions take place as well as its priorities,
characteristics and culture, acknowledging at the same time,
that they are contributing to the overall plans of the
international community and their governments.
•
Second, special care has to be put in place to make possible,
that a strong action from the Secretariat and the ICRC can be
combined with a strong collaboration between sister National
Societies.
Our second challenge will be to put in
place the mechanisms to account with total transparency not
only for the donations which have been placed at our disposal,
but also for the results of the activities to be carried out.
In the face of this disaster, the Federation, through
its Secretariat, will have to accelerate its strategies for
change, to adapt to current humanitarian needs, as we have
been planning for some time. "Our Federation of the Future"
project, and the implementation of the Secretariat plan, today
take on special significance in the key areas of action which
we have defined.
Now more than ever, we need to
strengthen and coordinate the capacity of National Societies
which are in the most precarious situations and also face the
most difficult humanitarian challenges.
In this
meeting, we must certainly highlight the role of donor
National Societies. It is obvious that without their
involvement, none of our proposals here would be possible.
That is why I consider it essential for the Federation, again
in its role of coordinating support for the communities
affected, to facilitate each and every one of the initiatives
of contributing National Societies.
Our Federation's
Secretariat must facilitate the actions of National Societies
when these opt for bilateral cooperation and more direct
action among National Societies; this option has the same
validity as the activities that are carried out within the
Federation.
Believe me, it is tremendously gratifying
to be with you all, today. It is the unanimous response by the
entire Red Cross and Red Crescent to tackle human suffering
with courage and tenacity, which reaffirms the dynamic
strength of our mission of respect for human life and dignity.
This is both a golden opportunity and a major
challenge for the Movement, the National Societies, the
Federation, and its Secretariat. At the same time, it is also
the reason why we are seen by the people of the world as a
viable vehicle through which to channel the material
expression of their personal solidarity.
I will end by
asking that this meeting be used to discuss and agree the
Regional Strategy and Operational Framework, so that that
those affected regain their hope and a decent life.
This terrible tragedy, I repeat, is a difficult
challenge for the International Federation and our
International Movement as a whole. But it is also a marvellous
opportunity to illustrate how the power of humanity can help
those vulnerable to natural disasters.
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