Geneva – This week’s United Nations Economic and Social Council Humanitarian Affairs Segment (ECOSCO HAS) in Geneva brought together hundreds of policy makers and practitioners to discuss some of the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges – particularly on the devastating impact climate change is likely to have in provoking crises in the next decades. 

This year’s event focused on the theme of “Promoting action to save lives, reach those in need and reduce humanitarian risk, vulnerability and need: Looking towards the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the climate summit called for by the Secretary-General.”  

Through a series of discussions and side-events, Member States engaged with humanitarian and development communities, the private sector, affected people and other actors.   

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) participates in the event annually, incorporating migration and displacement perspectives in contemporary humanitarian discourse. 

“There are few personal tragedies worse than having to flee for one’s life. And the tragedy deepens for every day that there is no solution in sight. Or when movement results in heightened vulnerability, rights violations, arbitrary detention or death along dangerous migration routes,” said Kerry Maze, IOM Senior Migration Crisis Analyst, speaking on behalf of Mohammed Abdiker, IOM’s Director of Operations and Emergencies. 

Maze further emphasized that more than 32,000 migrants have perished along migration routes since 2014, including 1,200 reported in the first half of 2019 alone. She also underlined recent World Bank Groundswell report estimates that, absent of urgent climate action, more than 143 million individuals could be forced to leave their homes by 2050. 

“Addressing mobility dimensions of crises is central to saving lives, reaching those in need and reducing humanitarian risk, vulnerability and need. More than a humanitarian imperative, it is critical for the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” Maze continued.   

To address some of these challenges, IOM co-sponsored two side-events on addressing internal displacement in protracted contexts and the assisting persons with disabilities in humanitarian action. 

This first event, “Addressing internal displacement associated with disasters and conflict: Planning for the long haul”, was organized by the GP20 Coordinator, UN OCHA and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). Panelists offered examples of good national practices for reducing displacement risk, outlined evidence on internal displacement trends and proposed measures to secure durable solutions.  

Considering the extreme marginalization of crisis-affected people with disabilities, IOM also co-sponsored the side event: “From global policies and guidelines to local engagement: including persons with disabilities in humanitarian action”, in which experts shared inclusive practices for persons with disabilities in humanitarian action, as well as gaps and challenges.  

Other topics covered in the ECOSOC HAS included: humanitarian funding trends and gaps, gender equality, the ongoing needs following Cyclone Idai, preparedness and response to weather-related disasters and community engagement in humanitarian crises. 

At a marketplace of interactive exhibits, IOM brought its “Holding On” Virtual Reality Exhibition, as well as a DTM exhibit showcasing practices that contribute to ensuring the safety, dignity and well-being of women and girls on the move. 

To know more about Humanitarian Affairs Segment 2019, click here. 

For more information, please contact: Angela Staiger at IOM Headquarters, Email: astaiger@iom.int