UN Relief Chief Warns of Escalating Global Conflicts, Praises Qatar's Humanitarian Efforts

Global security Forum

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, H.E. Martin Griffiths, highlighted the severe impact of escalating and unresolved conflicts in multiple countries during the opening session of the 2024 Global Security Forum yesterday. He emphasized how these ongoing crises are driving an unprecedented rise in humanitarian needs worldwide.

Griffiths acknowledged Qatar's significant contributions to "humanitarian diplomacy" through its efforts in conflict resolution and the provision of humanitarian aid wherever needed. "I have personally witnessed Qatar's commitment to maintaining humanitarian assistance as a top priority and its active engagement in resolving conflicts," he stated.

He outlined the devastating tragedies unfolding in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Congo, Afghanistan, and several other regions. "In many of these areas, strategic interests are not only obstructing conflict resolution but are also fueling the conflicts. Powerful nations are arming or otherwise supporting warring parties, shielding them from international intervention," he said. "Beyond conflicts, strategic competition and economic protectionism have hampered collective responses to climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing economic and social inequalities," he added.

Griffiths reflected on the original "dream" of uniting and protecting future generations from the horrors of war, fostering friendly relations among nations, promoting peace, resolving international disputes, upholding justice, respecting international law, and championing fundamental human rights and dignity.

He noted that widespread community destruction has created immense pressure on nations and societies, often exploited to exacerbate political divisions and hinder natural progress. The interconnected local information landscape, he explained, allows malign actors to significantly influence situations across different regions by spreading misinformation that deepens divisions and fuels conflicts, thereby endangering civilian security. "The highly connected local informational space means that malign actors can more easily impact disparate regions with misinformation and disinformation, further dividing and fueling conflicts," he said.

Despite the rising humanitarian needs driven by these factors, Griffiths concluded with a note of hope: "Humanity remains the beacon that will guide all of us."

 

Source: The Peninsula Qatar