76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
UN Security Council open meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Statement by Ambassador Sven Jürgenson
December 7, New York
I thank the Head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Grandi, for the comprehensive briefing and determined efforts. We remain strong supporters of your work and mandate – politically as well as financially – since 2001 we have supported the Agency with operational grants as well as with direct contributions towards helping alleviate specific humanitarian crises around the world.
Despite of the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire, new conflicts and crises have erupted and some old ones have deepened and escalated in the world this year, including in Ethiopia, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and around and in Gaza. An unprecedented number of people around the world are being forced from their homes, and the delivery of humanitarian aid has become more important than ever.
We are deeply concerned about a dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. At the beginning of the year, the situation in Afghanistan was already one of the worst in the world, now it can be even said – it is catastrophic – over 22 million people are in need of the humanitarian assistance. Estonia together with other European Union members pledged almost 800 million dollars for humanitarian assistance as part of the Flash Appeal. We commend United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees emergency response in Afghanistan that has been scaled up, particularly ahead of the harsh winter season in providing essential winter assistance to over 62,700 IDPs.
We are also deeply concerned about reported widespread sexual and gender based violence and other forms of violence and abuse in Libya and Ethiopia and child recruitment and use in Yemen and Mali. More attention should be paid to address these specific challenges, including by stepping up efforts to prevent, mitigate and respond to sexual- and gender based violence against refugees and internally displaced persons, and support their access to sexual and reproductive health services as well as mental health and psycho-social support.
Among persons on the move women and girls are often more vulnerable. They also face specific challenges in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, we need to scale up steps to mitigate the unprecedented social and economic impact on refugees and other forcibly displaced people, as well as to facilitate the equitable, safe and unhindered delivery and distribution of Covid vaccines, which is particularly urgent in some countries like in Myanmar, Syria and Yemen.
Climate change is a powerful driver of displacement because of its impacts on persons’ livelihoods and loss of livability in highly exposed locations. The World Bank’s updated Groundswell report released in September finds that climate change could force 216 million people across six world regions to move within their countries by 2050. Therefore, we need more concrete actions to realize commitments that are essential for protecting vulnerable communities around the world, including millions of refugees and displaced people living on the frontlines of the climate crisis, from Somalia to Central America.
Mr. President,
We need to ensure effective return of those with no right to stay, and step up efforts to combat migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings. In recent months, we have seen attempts by some States to exploit the vulnerability of human beings for political purposes. We condemn any attempts to instrumentalise migrants and refugees by orchestrating their flow across borders for political motives.
The trend in rising forced displacement has continued this year with global numbers now exceeding 84 million, as more people fleeing multiple active conflicts around the world. Due to the aggression in Ukraine, that has lasted already 7 years, there are 1.5 million IDPs across the country. The situation of displaced persons, in particular women, children and elderly people is precarious in Ukraine. Life-saving assistance, such as temporary shelter or minimum financial assistance can be provided along the 20 km of the “contact line” only in the government controlled areas, but unfortunately not in the non-government controlled areas.
It has become more evident than ever that we need digital solutions in improving the ability of the international community to collectively respond to crises. During the first Global Refugee Forum two years ago, Estonia pledged to cooperate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on digital identification and since then we have been taking steps to implement this pledge. We are sure that the High-Level Officials Meeting to be held in a week, will help to identify opportunities and set priorities going forward.
Finally, as this year we mark the 70th Anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, I would like to underline that the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is more relevant than ever, making sure that refugees and displaced people are fully protected by international human rights law, humanitarian law and refugee law.
Thank you
