wfn.org | Ecumenical bodies press governments support humanitarian agencies

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

Ecumenical bodies press governments' support for humanitarian agencies
Established principles should be respected in all aspects of refugee
response

GENEVA, 17 April 1999 (lwi)   In view of the ongoing war in Yugoslavia and
particularly acts of ethnic cleansing committed by Serbian forces against
the Albanian population in Kosovo, international church organizations with
headquarters here have called on their member churches and related
humanitarian agencies to press their respective governments to ensure that
basic principles of humanitarian assistance which are fundamental to
humanitarian refugee response are recognized and protected, and that
logistical support is provided within the framework of humanitarian
principles under the coordination of the established international agencies
taking care of the refugees.

In a joint statement signed by their respective general secretaries, the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the Conference of European Churches (CEC),
the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the World Council of
Churches (WCC) have expressed deep concern about the present humanitarian
crisis, which presents immense challenges not only to international
humanitarian organizations but also to political and military actors.

The text of the joint statement on the protection of humanitarian
principles in the Kosovo refugee response follows:

    Statement on Protection of Humanitarian Principles
                in Kosovo Refugee Response

                            by

                 Lutheran World Federation
                 World Council of Churches
              Conference of European Churches
            World Alliance of Reformed Churches

The war in Yugoslavia and especially acts of ethnic cleansing committed by
Serbian forces against the Albanian population in Kosovo have created a
humanitarian crisis of dramatic proportions which presents immense
challenges to international humanitarian organizations as well as to
political and military actors.

Within this context the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the World Council
of Churches (WCC), the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the World
Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) are deeply concerned that basic
principles of humanitarian assistance which are fundamental to humanitarian
refugee response be recognized and protected.  These principles include the
right to asylum under the same terms and conditions to which any other
group of refugees is entitled, including evacuation on a voluntary basis
only, respect for the unity of the family and priority for the elderly and
vulnerable.

Established international humanitarian organizations and institutions have
responsibility to ensure that such basic humanitarian principles are
protected.  In the present context the military has a necessary role in
providing logistical support, in the establishment of infrastructure and in
the safeguarding of both refugees and humanitarian personnel, but such
support must be provided within the framework of humanitarian principles
and under the coordination of the humanitarian organizations.

Therefore the LWF, WCC, CEC and WARC call on all member churches and their
related humanitarian agencies to press their respective governments:

          to support the presence and coordination role of established
international humanitarian agencies and institutions to ensure that
established humanitarian principles are protected in all aspects of refugee
response, including provision of sufficient support and resources to allow
for assistance which meets the standards set out in the Code of Conduct for
the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental
Organizations in Disaster Relief and the SPHERE Humanitarian Charter and
Minimum Standards in Disaster Responses.

          to ensure that lead humanitarian organizations such as UNHCR and
ICRC be given sufficient support and prominence to equip them to coordinate
humanitarian response.

          to ensure that the actual management of refugee services be
handled by humanitarian organizations and their personnel and that the role
of military actors be limited to logistics, infrastructure and security.

Yorgo Lemopoulos
Acting General Secretary
World Council of Churches

Agneta Ucko
Acting General Secretary
Lutheran World Federation

Milan Opocensky
General Secretary
World Alliance of Reformed Churches

Keith Clements
General Secretary
Conference of European Churches

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/