Brussels, 16/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has welcomed and given its unreserved support to the annual resolution of the United Nations on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of the United Nations personnel. The resolution, adopted on 15 December by the UN General Assembly as part of the “Humanitarian Week”, calls on all parties involved in armed conflict to refrain from abducting, hostage-taking and kidnapping humanitarian personnel and maintains all references to International Humanitarian Law. The European Union, which actively contributed to the text of the resolution, sees the security of aid workers as one of the biggest challenges to the effective delivery of humanitarian aid.
“This year's UN resolution on the safety and security of humanitarian workers is a strong reminder humanitarian work has unfortunately become one of the most dangerous jobs in today's world. Relief staff are increasingly exposed to risk while maintaining a lifeline to the victims of conflicts and disasters around the world. It is unacceptable that they are subject to harassment, abduction or even plain killing while serving humanity. We call on all parties to ensure that humanitarian workers are accepted and respected and that they feel safe and secure enough to perform their tasks on which so many lives depend”, said European International Co-operation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva.
The incidence of aid worker kidnappings continues to rise, with inevitably negative effects on how much aid humanitarian organisations can deliver to those in need. According to the United Nations, 24 of its aid workers lost their lives in service in 2010, compared with 45 in the previous year. The number of UN personnel injured in dangerous incidents rose from 190 in 2009 to 232 last year. In the first six months of this year, nine UN aid workers were killed and 46 injured. (AN/transl.rt)