The UN Economic and Social Council (ESOSOC) three day Humanitarian Affairs Segment focused on addressing “megacrises,” or humanitarian emergencies complicated by several serious compounding issues.
The meeting brought together various stakeholders including aid workers, diplomats, and private sector partners to brainstorm steps to strengthen aid. Much of the conversation echoed recent discussions surrounding the future of humanitarian aid and expectedly, many of the same themes emerged.
Megacrises = Record Numbers in Need
Secretary-General António Guterres spoke to the unprecedented need and urgency facing the global community. The world currently has the most active violent conflicts since 1945. The climate crisis is worsening storms, floods, heatwaves, and droughts – destroying both homes and harvests.
A record high of over 300 million people need humanitarian assistance and millions live under the threat of starvation. The number of refugees and displaced individuals is over 100 million, another historic high. The pandemic has laid bare rising inequities, including in healthcare as millions are stilled denied access to the vaccine. All of this causes the cost-of-living to increase around the world, as well as the price tag of aid.
As always, the most vulnerable suffer the harshest effects of these destabilizing crises. With women and girls experiencing what Under-Secretary Martin Griffiths termed “a shadow pandemic of violence and a rollback of their rights.”
Need for Increased and Flexible Funding
Disparities continue in humanitarian aid funding. While the humanitarian appeal for Ukraine is 70% funded, funding for other crises is only at 17%. This does not mean that the Ukrainian effort is undeserving, only that the world needs to meet its commitments everywhere with the same generosity. One such commitment is the $100 billion developed countries pledged to deliver yearly for climate action in developing nations.
Among the suggestions to address funding is investment in efforts to minimize climate change and increase sustainability – thus decreasing overall need.
Localisation & Decolonisation of Aid
A recurring theme was respecting, listening to, and working with local communities. The challenges of forthcoming megacrises simply cannot be met without the knowledge and skills of the people experiencing them. This is why decolonising aid is not just ethically and morally important, it is necessary from a practical standpoint.
Preparation is Crucial
Leaders urged participants to prepare for future crises by learning the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes strengthening international law and removing impediments like those placed on food and fertilizer sales.
Organizations must be proactive in their methodology and invest in warning systems. Nations must be prepared to take actions such as releasing food stockpiles and supporting mobilization before disaster strikes. In proof of concept, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement has pledged to scale up anticipatory action after its pilot activities eased the predictable suffering of more than 2.5 million people before the onset of floods and drought.