wfn.org | LWF General Secretary Noko remarks on signing agreement with WFP

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

Remarks on the occasion of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on
collaborative working arrangements between the United Nations World Food
Programme (WFP) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)

by Dr. Ishmael Noko, LWF General Secretary
6 August 1998
Rome

Today, we are signing this Memorandum of Understanding for the following
purposes:

- firstly, to cement our long-standing collaboration in the alleviation of
human suffering caused by man-made and natural disasters;

- secondly, to affirm our mutual commitment to work towards improving the
conditions of the poor, the marginalized and vulnerable groups; and

- thirdly, through our collaboration and solidarity with the afflicted, to
convey a clear message to the perpetrators of war and conflict between
neighbours, and between ethnic and religious groups, resulting in forced
displacement, poverty and misery.

This Memorandum cements and extends an already existing and effective
relationship between the two organizations at the field level.

As we sign the Memorandum, we note that the frequency of disasters has
increased worldwide and they have become more complex and difficult to deal
with. Changing global climate patterns (in particular, the El Nino effect)
have brought an increased incidence of drought, flood and wild fire. The
seven to ten year cycle of drought occurrence, observed in the past,  is no
longer the case. We deal with drought and its effects on an almost annual
basis, especially in localities where the ecosystem has been seriously
degraded or is no longer able to support the demands of a growing
population.

It is not uncommon for us to observe different types of natural disaster
manifesting themselves concurrently or consecutively. Often droughts are
followed by floods, or vice versa, and the cumulative effects severely test
the capacity of communities to recuperate.

We are also signing this Memorandum of Understanding at a time when new and
continuing conflicts and other man-made disasters raise increasing
humanitarian challenges of their own, and compound existing natural
disasters. The situations in Ethiopia/Eritrea and in the Sudan come readily
to mind as situations in which adverse natural conditions have been
compounded and the humanitarian impacts intensified as a result of
conflict. Collapsing or ineffective socio-economic and political systems in
some countries add to the extraordinary complexity of many emergencies
faced today, and increase the difficulties of rehabilitation and
development.

The human contribution to disasters and their humanitarian impacts is of
particular concern to us. It is noteworthy that here in Rome less than a
month ago the conference on the establishment of an international criminal
court adopted a Statute for such a court, which might go some way to
addressing some of the human activities which cause or add to the
seriousness of humanitarian disasters. I note in particular that the
definition of war crimes over which the court will have jurisdiction covers
internal conflicts as well as international conflicts, and includes
intentionally directing attacks against civilian populations, using
starvation of civilians as a method of warfare (at least in the case of
international conflicts), and ordering the displacement of the civilian
population. It is also some comfort to us , who have lost field staff in
Rwanda recently, that attacks against personnel involved in humanitarian
assistance or peacekeeping missions will also be included in the
jurisdiction of the court as a war crime. It is a great pity, however, that
the use of anti-personnel landmines was not included in the definition of
war crimes, given the enormous and long-term suffering caused by, and the
growing opinion in favour of a complete ban on, those indiscriminate
weapons.

The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding is a timely recognition of
the need to address increasingly frequent, and increasingly complex,
emergencies through joint and cooperative strategies. There is a clear need
for close coordination in the development of appropriate strategies for
responding to an increasingly unpredictable and dangerous situation. A
vicious circle of disaster has now become a common feature of many poor
nations, tightening the noose of poverty and misery around the world's most
vulnerable groups.  Humanitarian crisis poses a serious challenge to all of
us. Its impact affects all people, one way or the other. Its remedy also
calls for all humanity, and all national and international institutions to
work together.

In this context, the continuing fall in levels of Official Development
Assistance is a serious challenge for us all to consider, in a spirit of
solidarity with those who are suffering. This negative trend, and the shift
of focus towards foreign direct investment at the expense of ODA, must be
arrested if humanitarian need is to be adequately addressed.

We still have to seriously ask the question why over 800 million people
have to suffer from hunger in the world today. The right to food is an
acknowledged and inalienable human right. This fundamental human right must
find practical expression through our united efforts. We must find ways of
dealing with the root causes of human suffering. We have to address the
political conditions that perpetuate poverty and hunger. And we have to
expose the individuals, groups and systems that exploit human suffering for
political or strategic purposes.

Through this joint Memorandum we acknowledge that a united effort is the
only way forward to effectively combat the ever growing misery and to
uplift human dignity. We believe that there is an opportunity to make this
world a better place to live in, if only a concerted effort could be made.
We, therefore, reaffirm our commitment to the humanitarian imperatives and
code of conduct. Through our humanitarian assistance and development
efforts we will continue our endeavour to promote peace, justice and
reconciliation.

Thank you

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Lutheran World Information
Editorial Assistant: Janet Bond-Nash
E-mail: jbn@lutheranworld.org
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