wfn.org | Major non-UN agencies urge response to "forgotten" emergencies

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

In Africa, on-going conflicts have claimed millions of lives

GENEVA, 9 July 1999 (lwi) - Chief executive officers representing major
non-United Nations humanitarian agencies are urging that the
humanitarian crisis in the Balkans should not eclipse the acute
humanitarian needs elsewhere.

At their semi-annual meeting on 7 July 1999, members of the Steering
Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR), whose organizations are
deeply involved in the Balkans, expressed concern that emergencies
elsewhere in the world, some of which are of even greater magnitude,
should continue to receive the resources and attention that is required
to alleviate the suffering of all those affected by calamity.

In a press release issued here on 8 July 1999, the SCHR, which
represents both Christian and secular organizations, says it welcomes
the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Ms Sadako Ogata's recent
trip to Africa which highlighted the humanitarian crises in that
continent and urges humanitarian agencies, donors, as well as the
general public, to heed the warning of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
that "acute and tragic as it is, the present humanitarian crisis in
south eastern Europe must not divert attention and resources from other
emergencies in Africa, in the Caucasus and in Central Asia and
elsewhere."

In countries such as Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan and Sierra Leone,
on-going conflicts have claimed millions of lives and yet UN agencies,
NGOs and church groups report serious shortages of funds to respond to
these emergencies. Moreover, political commitment and energy are needed
to address the causes which have created these conditions and to seek
durable solutions.

The SCHR, an alliance for voluntary action bringing together both
Christian - the Lutheran World Federation, World Council of Churches and
Caritas Internationalis and secular organizations - Care International,
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,
International Committee of the Red Cross, International Save the
Children Alliance, Medecins sans FrontiŠres and Oxfam International, is
composed of nine chief executive officers representing each of its
organizations. Its present chair is Mike Aaronson who is the Director
General, Save the Children UK.

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