Anticipatory humanitarian action and the protection of humanitarian law and humanitarian space are the two main priorities of the German EU Council Presidency in the field of humanitarian aid, German Minister Niels Annen emphasised in front of the European Parliament's Committee on Development on Thursday, 3 September.
The minister cited forgotten humanitarian crises and the funding of international humanitarian assistance as two other important issues. His commitment was welcomed by the MEPs.
Anticipated humanitarian action. Predetermined and pre-financed activities that, based on a credible forecast, enable early action ahead of crises and the adaptation of humanitarian action to climate change are, in his view, a necessity to save more lives, take into account budgetary constraints and mitigate the impact of disasters, including pandemics.
Too often we are surprised by emergencies that could have been foreseen “if we had taken advantage of the available disaster risk data” such as hurricanes, for example, which destroy livelihoods.
“Germany advocates for a transition to a future-oriented humanitarian system. Technology has evolved, as has our ability to predict disasters”, he said.
The Presidency will organise, in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, a debate to enable the EU to adopt a firm position on safeguarding humanitarian principles while contributing to global efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
Principles of international humanitarian law and protection of humanitarian space. Germany has made it its mission to support and strengthen the standards and rules that protect the weakest. The minister referred to the increasing number of attacks on humanitarian workers, the obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian aid resulting from excessive compliance with anti-terrorist regimes and complex sanctions. “Even regimes to fight against diseases can add to these barriers”, the minister said.
Referring to last year's appeal for humanitarian action by Germany and France - an appeal already adopted by 45 UN members, including 21 EU countries - he called on all Member States and the EU to adopt it.
Germany is also in favour of balanced humanitarian exemptions in international sanctions regimes and in anti-terrorism rules and is working alongside the Commission to improve EU sanctions guidelines to reduce undesirable effects, he said.
Forgotten humanitarian crises. Recognising that the Covid-19 pandemic is overshadowing persistent humanitarian crises that are not in the headlines, he stressed the importance of raising public awareness and making decisions based on needs.
Reaching out to new donors. To fill the funding gap for international humanitarian assistance that the pandemic has further widened, while needs are growing at a very rapid pace, Mr Annen called for broadening the donor base and integrating more non-conventional donors as well as new donors into the United Nations coordinated system. Gulf countries and China are mentioned.
Towards an EU/China dialogue. Germany intends to use its mandate as Presidency of the EU Council to “reach out to unconventional donors and make humanitarian aid an integral part of the dialogue with the Gulf States”. It is also ready to “launch an EU/China dialogue on humanitarian issues”.
During the debate, the minister assured MEPs that “the response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on humanitarian needs will be high on the Presidency's agenda and will directly influence the working methods of COHAFA (EU Council Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid) for many months”.
In view of the scale of humanitarian needs, MEPs criticised the shortfall in resources for humanitarian aid in the draft Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 and called on Mr Annen to do his utmost to ensure that this is remedied. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)