Brussels, 06/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - In Geneva where he took part in a meeting of the executive Committee of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the European Commissioner for Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid, Poul Nielson, welcomed the co-operation between the humanitarian agencies of the United National and the Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) - co-operation which, according to him, constitutes "one of pillars of effective intervention in refugee crises and is the best evidence of European and international solidarity to victims".
"In the interest of beneficiaries, out partnership must be founded on rapidity, quality and accountability. Since 1992 ECHO has devoted approximately one third one third of its funding to projects implemented by UN humanitarian agencies and we have now clearly stated our political will to further improve our co-operation with the UN agencies", announced Poul Nielson while underlining that, at the same time, the partners are working to make their procedures more compatible with increased efficiency in the interventions.
This 51st session of the UNHCR executive Committee, to which will participate Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary General , and Mrs Sadako Ogata, High Commissioner for Refugees, being dedicated to the examination of certain aspects of crises linked to refugees, in particular: a) the ways in which to promote and build peace and to establish a bridge between humanitarian aid and long-term aid, b) the reasons for which the problem of refugees is both persistent and global, c) the identification of the most significant challenges to be undertaken, d) the conditions in which the High Commission could at best fulfil it duty with the support of international donors.
In the note, the Commission recalls that ECHO is the main partner of the UNHCR. Following the crisis in the African Great Lakes region, the office provided, in 1998-1999, EUR 29 million for projects in Burundi, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. In 2000, the ECHO funds made available to the UNHCR totalled more than EUR 32.5 million. Projects centred on assistance to refugees and displaced persons within the countries in crises are presently implemented in Yugoslavia (Kosovo) and in Indonesia (East Timor).