2026 ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment - Economic and Social Council, 29th Plenary Meeting

A very good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I call to order the 29th meeting of the Economic and Social Council at the Humanitarian Affairs segment of its 2026 session. I invite the Council to continue its consideration of Agenda Item 9, entitled Special Economic Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Assistance. I now invite the Council to begin its general discussion of Agenda Item 9. Before calling on the first speaker, I would like to appeal to delegations to please strictly adhere to the agreed time limits of 4 minutes for statements by individual delegations and 6 minutes for statements on behalf of a group of states. To assist speakers in managing their time, the microphone light will blink 30 seconds before the time limit is reached. In case speakers exceed their time limit, the microphone will be automatically deactivated. I do apologize in advance if speakers have to be cut off. This measure is being taken to ensure that all speakers can deliver their statements in the limited time available for the general discussion.

Thank you.

In order to ensure proper interpretation, delegations are kindly asked to please speak at a normal pace and to provide a written copy of their statements by email to eStatements@un.org at least 2 hours in advance of delivery. I also wish to recommend that delegations refer to the live list of speakers on the eSpeakers module of the eDelegate portal and on iGov so that they are ready to speak when given the floor. The QR code to access the link to the live list of speakers is posted in this chamber. I thank you all for your understanding and cooperation. I also ask for silence, please, from the room at the beginning of the statements. Thank you very much in advance for your cooperation. Okay, the first speaker on my list The next speaker who I give the floor to is His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, followed by Vietnam.

Mr. President, we warmly congratulate you on your leadership in guiding the 2026 ECOSOC Affairs segment. We also thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report and valuable recommendations. The report represents a sobering reality. Over 239 million people will require humanitarian assistance and protection in 2026. Against this alarming backdrop, we highly appreciate the work of the UN humanitarian system, particularly OCHA, in supporting affected populations. We hope that the Humanitarian Reset will generate meaningful impact through its four pillars: define, deliver, devolve, and defend. Mr. President, Bangladesh remains firmly committed to humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law, rooted in the spirit of our 1971 Liberation War and guided by a people-centered approach to protecting vulnerable populations. This reflects the vision of our Shohid President Ziaur Rahman, who promoted community empowerment, rural development, and agricultural revitalization. It was further strengthened by our first female Prime Minister, Begum Khaledazizah, who advanced social protection, disaster preparedness, grassroots development, and women's empowerment through expanded female education and stipend programs. Building on this legacy, since assuming office in February 2026, Following a free and fair election, the government of Bangladesh under Prime Minister Tariq Rahman has pursued a comprehensive humanitarian agenda focused on vulnerable people. Key initiatives include the Family Card and Farmers Card programs, expanded social assistance and allowances, renewed canal excavation projects, agricultural loan waivers, e-health cards, and digital land services. New youth and education programs are also being implemented, including free education for girls up to undergraduate level. Recognizing that women are at the forefront of humanitarian response, we remain committed to advancing women's empowerment and ensuring their full participation in all spheres of society. Our female peacekeepers have consistently demonstrated exemplary service in challenging humanitarian and peacekeeping environments. contributing to community outreach and protection efforts in conflict-affected settings. Mr. President, the global humanitarian landscape is becoming increasingly complex. We are deeply concerned by the widening gap between humanitarian needs and available resources, as well as the growing threats faced by the humanitarian personnel. We are also concerned by emerging challenges such as digital harassment, which dis— disproportionately affect women, increase vulnerabilities, and restrict access to services in crisis-affected settings. We are equally concerned by forced displacement. Hosting over 1.2 million Rohingyas from Myanmar, we have witnessed the profound humanitarian, social, and economic consequences of protracted displacement. Building on successful repatriation efforts in 1978, under President Ziaur Rahman and in 1992 under Prime Minister Khaled Zia, we remain hopeful that under Prime Minister Tariq Rahman, progress can be made toward a durable solution. We therefore call for the early return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar alongside accountability for violations of international humanitarian law in Rakhine State. Adequate and predictable humanitarian funding and equitable burden sharing must continue until repatriation is achieved.

Thank you.

Mr. President, as humanitarian challenges grow in scale and complexity, full respect for international human rights—

I thank Her Excellency Samah Wadid Islam, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh. Now, I give the floor to His Excellency My Bui Nguyen, Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam. Followed by Spain.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Vietnam thanks ECOSOC and OCHA for convening this important discussion. Today, humanitarian needs are reaching unprecedented levels. Armed conflicts, climate-related disasters, and economic shocks continue to push millions into vulnerability. According to the General Secretary's report, nearly 290 million 39 million people may require humanitarian assistance in 2026, while available resources are far from sufficient. Behind every figure is a human life that depends on our collective action. Excellency, humanitarian action must be guided by international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and international humanitarian law. Respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and protection of civilians and safe humanitarian access are not optional but essential for effective humanitarian response. It must also strengthen accountability for violation of international humanitarian law. At the same time, greater investment is needed in prevention, preparedness, risk reduction, and early warning system. Mr. President, Vietnam remains firmly committed to multilateralism, and as a responsible member of the international community, we stand ready to contribute our part to meeting humanitarian needs. Our people have long embraced the traditional spirit of 'là lằng dân là sách'—those who are better off help those facing hardship. Despite our own vulnerability to to climate-related disaster, Vietnam continues to contribute actively to international humanitarian effort. In recent years, successive typhoons affected millions of our people, yet we continue supporting humanitarian mechanism, including Central Emergency Response Fund, participating in UN peacekeeping operation, strengthening ASEAN Disaster Management Corporation, or dispatching search and rescue teams and humanitarian assistance to far-off countries. Let us turn solidarity into action and ensure that humanity remains at the heart of our response. Thank you.

Doi la gracia, Su Excelency.

I thank His Excellency, Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam, for his statements, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Spain.

Excellencies, authorities, we thank you for convening this humanitarian segment at a critical juncture for the international community. We are currently at an inflection point. The number and complexity of armed conflicts are increasing and humanitarian needs are reaching unprecedented levels. According to the Global Humanitarian Overview, 239 million people will need humanitarian assistance this year. However, the resources available force the humanitarian system to only prioritize those in the most extreme situations of need. We're also very concerned about new trends such as the questioning of the fundamental principles that must guide humanitarian action or campaigns of disinformation and hate speech against essential humanitarian actors. In this regard, please allow me to begin with a firm conviction: diplomacy remains our most effective tool. Dialogue is a tool that can enable us to prevent tensions, exchange experiences, and find points of agreement and build lasting solutions that respect the dignity of all peoples. It's also an instrument to promote international humanitarian law that must enable us to guarantee coordinated and sustainable responses to crises. Spain reiterates its commitment— Thank you. Commitment to the international rules-based system based on international law. Today more than ever, we insist on the relevance of the norms of the international community, including the UN Charter, the international humanitarian law, and international human rights law. This is why we are actively participating in the global initiative of the ICRC to drive the political commitments to international humanitarian law, and alongside other countries, we are co-chairing This in line with our work on the protection of hospitals. This has enabled us to increase our understanding of the operational challenges and have shown a clear willingness to improve the implementation of international humanitarian law. We also support efforts for reform that are currently underway in the humanitarian system. We share the goal of building a more effective and efficient system, but we believe it's essential that any transformation process fully preserves humanitarian principles. Vice President, we are aware that dialogue is not enough to move from mechanisms being effective and fulfilling commitments. That's why we adopted our strategy in 2023 for humanitarian diplomacy, and we are currently updating it. This strategy places priorities like the protection of the humanitarian space at the heart of it, protecting medical missions, defend— defending minors in armed conflicts, And it also works on strengthening local actors on the ground, in particular organizations led by women. From an operational point of view, the longstanding commitment of Spain to humanitarian action will continue to reflect through budgetary increases our commitment over the next few years. Humanitarian aid is enshrined in our Sustainable Development and Global Solidarity Law of 2023 that includes a commitment to allocate 0.7% of GDP to ODA. For 2030, and 10% of this to humanitarian aid. The humanitarian budget has tripled over the last 5 years and continues to grow in line with our legislation. We continue to promote more coherence between humanitarian action, sustainable development, and peacebuilding, convinced that it is only by addressing the root causes of crises that we'll be able to reduce the humanitarian needs in a lasting manner. Chair, despite the efforts, we cannot close our eyes to something that is obvious, the erosion of international humanitarian law and growing lack of compliance with the norms laid down therein. That's why accountability is another one of the fundamental elements without which justice, protection, and reparation for victims cannot exist. The perpetrators of violations of international humanitarian law must not go unpunished regardless of the context where this happens. Spain systematically condemns attacks against humanitarian personnel and other grave violations of international humanitarian law. We are particularly concerned about attacks against the International Court of Justice and other bodies.

The speaker's microphone was cut off.

I thank the distinguished representative of Spain. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland.

Monsieur le Président. Mr. President, on behalf of Switzerland, I'd like to thank Spain for convening this segment. We welcome these exchanges between member states, UN agencies, and civil society, which are crucial for enriching our collective discussions. However, the time for diagnosis is over. It is now vital that these discussions lead to tangible decisions and ambitious reforms. More than one year after the launch of the humanitarian reset, progress has been achieved. However, structural limitations remain. The humanitarian system remains too centralized, fragmented, and insufficiently impact-oriented. Local and national actors continue to face significant obstacles in their access to financing and participation in decision-making processes at a time when they are often the first to to take action in times of crisis. In a context of increasing need and a reduction of available resources, we must go far beyond mere adjustments. First of all, we must enhance a needs-based prioritization. Current resources are not sufficient to meet all humanitarian needs. Therefore, it is crucial to focus our efforts where they will have the most greatest impact while ensuring that the most vulnerable persons remain at the heart of our decisions. The Switzerland is striving to strengthen the alignment of its financing on humanitarian priorities and encourage the UN to implement its strategy for transition and withdrawal. Secondly, we must make localization a concrete reality. This entails transferring more resources, responsibility, and decision-making power to local and national actors, recognizing their added value. International organizations have a key role to play, but this must first and foremost consist of supporting, complementing, and strengthening local capacity. Switzerland thus advocates for a humanitarian system that is based on subsidiarity and led by local and national actors.

Thank you.

Thirdly, we must build a more coherent, accountable, and results-based system. This means reducing fragmentation on the country level and bolstering collective accountability of humanitarian actors. Led by the Resident Coordinators and Humanitarian Coordinators, the agencies and partners ought to form part of a collective response based on their comparative advantages. Mr. Lindh has long supported a strong RCHC system on the political and financial fronts. These efforts in the end mean that we have a common goal— maximizing our collective impact in humanitarian action to benefit affected populations.

Thank you.

President, these efforts toward reform will not be effective except if we have an environment that fosters humanitarian action, respecting international humanitarian law by all parties under all circumstances and without any conditions remains crucial. This requires safe, rapid, unhindered humanitarian access to populations in need. Serious violations of international humanitarian law ought to be investigated and prosecuted independently. Humanitarian access should not become a variable in conflict. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Switzerland. Also, thank you for your efforts I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Greece.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In recent years, we have witnessed a number of humanitarian crises whose magnitude has grown exponentially, and while some have become so protracted that they seem permanent. As the international community is devoting substantive resources and attention to respond to global emergencies, principled humanitarian action must remain at the core of our response, irrespective of the cause of the crisis. We must remain strongly committed to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. The respect of international humanitarian law, refugee law, and human rights law is paramount. Achieving Greater efficiency in the delivery of humanitarian aid has no alternative. Only anticipatory humanitarian assistance that enables preparedness action before disasters strike can make our response more effective and more accountable towards the people it aims to serve. Greece aligns itself with the statement to be delivered soon by Cyprus as the chair-in-office of the European Union Council on behalf of the European Union and its member states. Greece is aiming at strengthening its actions —towards prevention and resilience and ensuring sustainable solutions. Over the last years, we are supporting targeted interventions in vulnerable neighbouring regions with intense humanitarian needs, either through contributions to appeals or programmes of international organizations working on the ground, or by sending humanitarian aid in kind. At the same time, we finance initiatives of international organizations of the UN framework, in order to reduce the impact of secondary problems such as migration flows. We also welcome and fully support the UN Haiti Initiative, the humanitarian research. Structural reforms of the multilateral humanitarian system are needed in order to improve the efficiency and impact of humanitarian action. Humanitarian response should be people-centred and rooted in local initiatives. Planning and implementation should rely on local co-led structures, including national and local CSOs, supported by predictable, flexible and long-term resources to enable meaningful participation and uphold humanitarian principles. Let me close, Mr. Chair, by stressing two points. Since the number of internationally displaced persons is at an unprecedented global high, it is imperative for the international community to move towards durable solutions for ensuring that displaced populations can access livelihood opportunities and rebuild their lives. And finally, we believe that it's essential to fund the humanitarian-development-peace nexus to forge emergency response with development efforts, address humanitarian needs, and support development objectives. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Greece, and before I give the floor to the next speaker, I'd like to ask everyone in the room to please stay silent and put your mobile devices on silent mode too while other people are speaking. Thank you for your kind cooperation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kenya.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. Kenya aligns itself with the 2026 Humanitarian Affairs Segment theme. In a world facing escalating humanitarian needs driven by climate change, conflict, and socioeconomic pressures, We must advance a transformative approach while upholding core humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law. As a country affected by recurrent hazards and a generous host to refugees and IDPs, Kenya underscores the urgency of enhanced coordination, sustainable and predictable financing, efficient delivery, and measurable impact. Kenya faces multifaceted humanitarian challenges. Climate extremes, prolonged droughts, floods, and erratic rainfall displace populations annually, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas. Resources-based conflicts and development-induced displacement compound these issues. In addition, Kenya is host to over 800,000 refugees, placing significant strain on host communities. Our response is anchored in robust legal frameworks and institutions supported by Kenya's development policy priorities envisioned in the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda and a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. For instance, the Prevention, Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons and Affected Communities Act of 2012 complemented with the 2021 Refugees Act, as well as the Shirika Plan. These initiatives aim to transform refugee camps into integrated municipalities, promote self-reliance and economic inclusion. These efforts embody the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, shifting from encampment to resilience-building. Kenya upholds humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, and continues to respect international humanitarian law. Our coordination mechanisms, including collaboration with UN agencies, the civil society regional bodies, and the private sector, facilitate effective response. Recent efforts include Fair Early Warnings for All initiative, anticipatory actions, and climate resilient programming. Despite this progress, challenges remain. Funding shortfalls undermine timely response and long-term impact. Kenya therefore calls for, number one, prioritization of locally-led responses that build resilience by scaling up anticipatory action, climate adaptation, and livelihood programs to address root causes. Kenya's Shiriika Plan, the 15 Billion Trees Initiative, and Ending Drought Emergencies Framework offer models for integrated area-based programming that reduces future humanitarian needs. And number two, international cooperation to complement national efforts in financing resilience, not disasters. On our part, Kenya commits to operationalize the Disaster Risk Management Act of 2026, a landmark legislation that strengthens the country's ability to prevent, to prepare, respond, and recover from disasters. We remain committed to these goals and continue to invest in disaster risk management, social protection, and inclusive policies. Initiatives such as differentiated assistance for refugees and climate-resilient infrastructure demonstrate our determination. In conclusion, Mr. President, addressing unprecedented challenges demands collective action. Thank you.

Kenya stands ready to partner, share experiences, and contribute to a more effective

I thank the distinguished representative of Kenya, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iceland.

Let me begin by thanking you for the very, very relevant program we have this week. We are thankful for the opportunity to discuss these important issues. Currently, we're facing a growing number of protracted crises, often characterized by complex interplay of conflict, climate change, external economic shocks, and lack of respect for international humanitarian law. We remain deeply concerned by this persistent disregard for international humanitarian law. Ensuring full compliance, guaranteeing safe and unhindered humanitarian access, Promoting accountability for violations and protecting humanitarian personnel are all essential to reducing human suffering and upholding human dignity. Protection is an area we believe should be at the forefront of our humanitarian efforts, and we cannot forget that humanitarian assistance, by its very definition, is inclusive and should reach those most vulnerable. That means gender equality, the rights of LGBTQI+ persons, persons with disabilities, and youth. Must all be taken into account and promoted. We hope the UN80 process and the humanitarian reset will lead to increased cooperation across all UN actors and improved results. And if that is to happen, the RCs, HCs must be empowered to deliver on their important mandate. Unfortunately, all this work takes place while the system deals with an unprecedented financing crisis, but still the incredibly dedicated staff of these organizations keep delivering life-saving assistance when and where needed, We are truly grateful for that. Core funding is a crucial enabler of humanitarian action. This year, Iceland has increased its contributions to humanitarian assistance, and now close to one-third of our humanitarian contributions are core contributions. This is what enables the system to deliver assistance swiftly and allocate funds to emergencies as soon as possible, all while using the funds in the most efficient way. Finally, I would like to say that humanitarian assistance contributes to stability and can lay the foundations which development actors can then build on. Therefore, we must ensure the relevant actors are on the same page, delivering what is needed, when and where it is needed, and that is what I hope will result from our meetings here this week. Thank you.

Muchas gracias, Distinguido Representante.

I thank the Distinguished Representative of Iceland, and I now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Uruguay, speaking on behalf of the G77 in China. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. At the outset, allow me on behalf of the group to express gratitude to you, Your Excellency Ambassador Héctor Gómez, Vice President of ECOSOC and Chair of this year's Humanitarian Affairs Segment, for convening this important event. Mr. Vice President, the Group of 77 and China acknowledges with grave concern that we are facing unprecedented humanitarian challenges, with humanitarian needs reaching record levels, and deeply regrets that developing countries continue to bear a disproportionate —burden of the impacts of conflicts, disasters, climate change, economic shocks, food insecurity, and public health emergencies. These interconnected crises threaten hard-won development gains and place additional pressure on already constrained national capacities. Therefore, the Group wishes to underscore that the imperative for strengthened International solidarity is more critical than ever to respond to humanitarian needs effectively. We must accelerate our efforts to strengthen coordination, financing, delivery, and impact of humanitarian assistance to all people in need, in particular the 239 million people that are projected to need assistance this year, as quoted in the 2026 Humanitarian humanitarian overview. At the same time, the Group reaffirms that humanitarian assistance must be guided by the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. The Group continues to strongly condemn the alarming rise in attacks, threats, and violence against humanitarian and medical personnel, particularly local and national staff, as well as their facilities, equipment, and supplies. Such acts violate international humanitarian law, severely hinder the delivery of the— of life-saving assistance, and may constitute war crimes. The Group pays tribute to the courage and commitment of all those engaged in humanitarian operations, especially those on the front lines, and reaffirms its strong and continued support to the key humanitarian work undertaken by OCHA and UNRWA on the ground. The Group of 77 and China unequivocally condemns the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, including attacks on objects essential for their survival, which is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law.

Thank you.

In that regard, the Group wishes to underscore that protecting civilians' infrastructure is vital for essential services and the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The Group also wishes to highlight the urgent necessity to promote and respect international humanitarian law, including the obligation of all parties to armed conflicts to allow and facilitate rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access as we strive to alleviate suffering and uphold the dignity of all those affected by humanitarian emergencies. We must also double efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for violations of international humanitarian law, including attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure, humanitarian personnel, and United Nations-associated personnel. Mr. Vice President, the Group of 77 and China note with concern the decrease in total reported humanitarian funding amid these unprecedented challenges. More than ever, international cooperation and sustained technical and financial support from States and the UN system are indispensable. The Group extends its appreciation to all members— that provide humanitarian funding and urged developed countries to continue to do so while recognizing the need to escalate innovative funding mechanisms and diversifying via non-traditional donors. The Group also stresses the importance of bridging the humanitarian financing gap while maintaining a clear distinction between humanitarian and development financing, prioritizing capacity building and resilience, particularly in developing countries, is essential to ensure nationally-led and sustainable responses to humanitarian challenges. The Group also wishes to highlight that humanitarian action alone cannot address the growing scale and complexity of humanitarian crises. Greater attention must be given to addressing the root causes, including poverty, inequality, the adverse impacts of climate change, and other structural vulnerabilities that continue to disproportionately affect developing countries. In conclusion, the Group stands ready to work together with all relevant partners to respond more effectively to the urgency and scale of today's humanitarian emergencies, ensuring that the needs and priorities of affected developing countries remain at the centre of our collective efforts through genuine solidarity, respect for international law, and empowerment of national capacities. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Uruguay speaking on behalf of the G77 in China, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cyprus speaking on behalf of the EU.

Chair, Excellencies, colleagues, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Armenia and Monaco, aligned themselves with this statement. Let me begin by expressing our sincere gratitude to Spain for its leadership in chairing this year's ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment. Chair, we are at a defining moment for the global humanitarian system that is under severe pressure. Amidst polarizing geopolitics, humanitarians under attack, and fallout from reductions and shifting dynamics in funding, our goals remain straightforward: to save the lives of millions of people worldwide who depend on aid, to uphold their human dignity and ensure their protection, and to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law and for fundamental humanitarian principles everywhere. Today, 239 million people worldwide need humanitarian assistance, compared with 31 million in 2006, in Palestine, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among many others. The most vulnerable—women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons—are disproportionately affected and continue to bear the brunt of this crisis. Humanitarian workers as well as medical personnel are increasingly and often terribly targeted. Civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and water systems, are increasingly targeted, resulting in significant casualties and suffering amplified by the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Armed conflict, price shocks, and climate factors —have pushed millions of people into dangerous levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, and famine risk. Against this stark reality, the European Union and its Member States remain fully committed to strengthening the UN-coordinated Global Humanitarian System and making it more effective, coherent, and flexible amidst cutbacks. The scale and complexity of today's humanitarian challenges demand effective multilateral responses, greater global solidarity, enhanced promotion of prevention, as marked mobilization and efficient allocation of resources. This requires visionary humanitarian leadership at all levels, unwavering political commitment of member states, and equitable strategic and operational partnership between local, national, and international actors. Such leadership must prioritize—

Thank you.

Inclusivity, innovation, and accountability to meet evolving challenges effectively. The European Union and its member states have consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to shoulder their share of responsibility. We remain the leading humanitarian donor globally. In 2025, Team Europe provided roughly 34% of humanitarian funding to support principal humanitarian assistance worldwide. The European Union's—

Thank you.

2026 humanitarian budget, started with an initial allocation of €1.9 billion for this year. We also recognize the urgent need for innovative financing mechanisms and trust funding gaps and commit to exploring new avenues for resource mobilization, including with emerging economies, the private sector, and international financial institutions. In view of this, the European Commission together with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has recently adopted a Joint Communication on Humanitarian Aid, sending out a clear, action-oriented vision to strengthen our response. It reflects our commitment to safeguard the humanitarian principles, maximizing the impact of our funding in armed conflicts, situations of fragility, and humanitarian emergencies, as well as working more effectively with all stakeholders. Our approach is built on three pillars: Protect, Perform, and Partner. First, Protect. Respect for international humanitarian law is not negotiable. The European Union condemns all violations of IHL, which includes attacks on civilians, including aid workers and critical civilian infrastructure. The EU is taking concrete steps to strengthen compliance with IHL, ensure accountability for violations, intensify our humanitarian diplomacy, defend the safety of humanitarian workers through strengthened legal frameworks and operational safeguards, and support independent investigations into violations, including through the International Criminal Court. Second, perform by aligning reform with the needs of the most vulnerable. The European Union continues to support the Humanitarian Reset and the UNHCR.

Thank you.

Initiative to strengthen the humanitarian system's efficiency, accountability, and impact, while safeguarding the principled nature of the response. We must ensure that protection, gender equality, and inclusion remain at the core of our efforts. The EU is also committed to reforming humanitarian supply chains, from procurement to last-mile delivery, to reduce costs, avoid duplication, and reach more people faster. Third, Partnership, delivering on commitments through stronger collaboration. The EU is deepening its engagement with a broad range of stakeholders and partners: local responders, the private sector, international financial institutions, and philanthropic actors. In fragile contexts, we need better cooperation so that short-term relief and long-term resilience go hand in hand. Local and national actors should be empowered and have the resources and decision-making power to lead responses. This also means ensuring that women, children, persons with disabilities, and other groups in vulnerable situations are not just beneficiaries of aid, but also partners in the response.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cyprus, speaking on behalf of the EU. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan, also on behalf of Brazil, China, France, Jordan, and South Africa. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies. I am honored to deliver the statement on behalf of Brazil, China, France, Jordan, South Africa, and my own country, Kazakhstan. Today, civilians in about 100 30 armed conflicts around the world face unacceptable realities. They suffer the effects of devastating attacks, including indiscriminate use of explosive weapons, the remnants of which remain pervasive threats. They face destruction of critical infrastructure and life-sustaining services, including healthcare. They are too often displaced from their homes, separated from their families,— and deprived of education and opportunities, with generational impacts. Such inconceivable human suffering and destruction largely result from the divide between the adherence to legally binding obligations under international humanitarian law and the realities on the ground. Addressing this gap requires a renewed commitment to the universal, non-selective and even-handed application of IHL in all armed conflicts. States bear the primary responsibility for respecting and ensuring respect for IHL, including the Geneva Conventions. The international community bears a collective responsibility to act immediately to stem the rising tide of IHL violations. Respect for IHL not only alleviates unnecessary human suffering during armed conflict, but also to preserve the conditions necessary for de-escalation, reconciliation, and sustainable peace. On 24 September 2024, 6 states from different regions and with diverse histories took a decisive step forward to act. Together with the ICRC, they launched a global initiative aimed at galvanizing political commitment to international humanitarian law, and reinforcing the protections it affords. 113 States have now joined the Global IHL Initiative. This includes 27 States from all regions that have agreed to co-chair one of the seven workstreams on existing and contemporary challenges to IHL. Representatives from over 160 States have taken part in at least one of the consultations, sharing their views on how to interpret IHL, exchanging good practices, and providing practical actions for States to improve its implementation. We would like to express gratitude to the co-chairs and all delegations who have already contributed to the discussions. We welcome the high-level and substantive engagement demonstrated by participating States. We also note a shared sense of urgency as experts from all over the world have expressed their concerns regarding the erosion of respect for IHL. The final round of consultations with States will take place next week in Geneva and online. We encourage all States to participate in sharing experiences and best practices on IHL. Following next week's consultations of the Global Initiative, the co-chairs will work on the outcomes of the 7 workstreams. We anticipate further discussions in New York in September, an open dialogue in Geneva in early November, leading to the Humanity in War Conference in Jordan on December 7th. We encourage all States to join the initiative and attend the meetings both in Geneva and Jordan later this year. We must all live up to our collective responsibility to abide by and uphold IHL. To preserve humanity in armed conflicts and to work towards a just and peaceful future. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan and I now give the floor to the Representative of Italy.

Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Let me begin by expressing our sincere gratitude to Spain for its leadership in sharing this year's ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment. Italy aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Presidency of the European Union. We meet amid unprecedented humanitarian needs as conflicts grow more protracted and complex, with civilians continuing to bear the brunt of war. At the same time, humanitarian actors face severe funding constraints, mounting operational challenges, and growing risks to their safety. Against this backdrop, this year's theme is particularly timely, especially as we witness an alarming erosion of respect for the rules designed to protect civilians and limit the consequences of armed conflict. Italy remains firmly committed to promoting compliance with international humanitarian law and to supporting initiatives aimed at and strengthen its effective implementation. In recent years, we have intensified our efforts in this field through training, awareness-raising activities, and international partnership, including with the Italian Red Cross and other humanitarian actors. We also continue to support international initiatives aimed at protecting humanitarian personnel and strengthen accountability for violation of international humanitarian law notably the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law. At the same time, we must address the growing gap between needs and resources. Humanitarian financing must become more flexible, predictable, and impact-driven, with improved coordination among donors, international organizations, and local partners. We will continue to strengthen the nexus between humanitarian action, development cooperation, and peacebuilding. Including support for durable solutions for displaced populations and crisis-affected communities. We remain determined to work with the United Nations and all partners to uphold humanitarian principles, protect vulnerable populations, and ensure that assistance reaches those most in need. Allow me to conclude by paying tribute to humanitarian workers around the world. Every day, often at great personal risk, They bring life-saving assistance, protection, and hope to millions of people. They deserve our gratitude and, above all, our unwavering political support and our collective commitment to uphold the rules and principles that make humanitarian action possible. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Italy. I give the floor now to the distinguished representative of Egypt.

Mr. Vice President of the ECOSOC, we meet today amid an unprecedented increase in armed conflicts, continued violations of international humanitarian law, and immense challenges facing international humanitarian assistance. In this context, our vision is centered on three main issues. One, compliance and commitment. If the If the end of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century was the period of time in which the international humanitarian law was developed, then the first quarter of the 21st century is the time in which the values of this law are being violated. Despite the arsenal of international resolutions and initiatives, we still lack effective implementation and mandatory compliance. The tragedies in Gaza and Sudan are emblematic of the crisis of commitment and enforcement and compliance. Second, funding. Today's world is witnessing an unprecedented rise in humanitarian needs due to the rise in the number of conflicts and a number of economic and environmental factors. These developments are being met by a regrettable decline in humanitarian funding and the blurring of the distinction between such funding and development support. We call upon all donors to to significantly increase their funding for humanitarian assistance and to respond to United Nations appeals for conflict settings. Third, protection. Humanitarian assistance is not being properly protected. Humanitarian assets are being targeted. We are witnessing attacks on civilian objects, especially medical facilities. UN personnel and humanitarian workers are being attacked. Humanitarian access points are being closed. The war in Gaza has been a tragedy in which which we have seen all such attacks in the most densely populated areas in the world. We pay tribute to the role of UNRWA, its martyrs, and the martyrs of the United Nations in all conflicts. Mr. President, to address these phenomena, we emphasize the following. First, the U.N. and its organizations, particularly OCHA, the United Nations agencies, they all must play a vital role in the delivery of humanitarian assistance and ensuring adherence to international humanitarian law and the principles of humanitarian action and supporting all initiatives aimed at mobilizing funding for United Nations humanitarian appeals. We must encourage the inclusion of humanitarian component in ceasefire agreements and conflict resolution arrangements to ensure the safety of humanitarian support and protection for UN personnel and humanitarian workers. To employing emerging technologies to develop humanitarian assistance mechanisms to improve their efficiency. Technological advancement has brought us closer to the sites where humanitarian support is needed and allowed us to identify the needs more accurately. Three, respecting the sovereignty of states and their ownership of humanitarian action on their territories. International support must focus on responding to national priorities. National frameworks are best placed to identify operational requirements. They're less costly and also the most effective. This priority or this This priority doesn't mean that developing countries should not— should bear the entire burden on their own, nor does it absolve international actors of their responsibilities. Mr. President, Egypt is committed to ending conflicts and providing humanitarian assistance. We were among the states that tabled Security Council Resolution 2286, which was adopted 10 years ago. We joined the political commitment to international humanitarian law, and we engage in effective mediation efforts. Particularly during the crisis of Gaza and Sudan. The Egyptian Agency of Partnership and Development has supported sisterly and friendly countries in responding to crisis and providing humanitarian assistance, most recently during the Ebola outbreak. Egypt is also committed to cooperate closely with the UN and the Office of the Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. In conclusion, commitment to humanitarian assistance is not a favor, not an act of charity, not a matter of luxury or choice. It is an obligation under international law and above all an obligation to our shared humanity.

I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Egypt. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sweden.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies. Sweden aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. We hold this meeting at a time when the world seems increasingly divided. Humanitarian needs remain significant. Humanitarian funding is insufficient. Humanitarian access is denied. Humanitarian workers are attacked. And multilateral humanitarian efforts are politicized in cynical and short-sighted ways. In this context, international humanitarian law stands as our shared moral compass—steady, principled, and immutable. It reminds us that even in war there are limits. Even in conflict there must be humanity. Sweden is guided by a simple conviction: principles must continue to guide humanitarian action. When civilians are targeted, when medical facilities are struck, when humanitarian access is obstructed, we cannot look the other way. International humanitarian law is not aspirational. It is binding. We must ensure accountability when violations occur. Silence in this context is not neutrality. It is complicity. We must also move beyond rhetoric. It requires that we support those on the front lines, humanitarian workers who carry the torch of humanity into the darkest corners of conflict. We must act together to reaffirm that humanity does not become a casualty of war. Thank you. War. International humanitarian law is not just a legal framework. It is a promise. A promise that dignity will prevail over destruction. That compassion will endure amidst chaos. And that even in war, our shared humanity will not be forgotten. Mr. President, Sweden helped lay the foundations of the humanitarian system over 30 years ago with Resolution 46, 182. Today we see an urgent need for change. We must strengthen UN-coordinated global humanitarian system by making it more effective, coherent, and flexible amidst cutbacks. But we must never lose track of who this system exists to serve: the hundreds of millions of people in need of humanitarian assistance. The Humanitarian Omnibus Resolution remains our shared platform to send a clear, coherent signal to the UN's coordinated humanitarian system. At a time of growing division, it is more important than ever that Member States speak with one voice in support of principled, effective humanitarian action. Thank you.

Doy las gracias al distinguido representante de la República Dominicana.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sweden, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Indonesia aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China. Today, conflict, disasters, and climate change continue to push millions further into vulnerability. Yet, the humanitarian system is being asked to do more, with less. These realities require us to rethink how humanitarian assistance is delivered, coordinated, and financed. Mr. Chair, Indonesia wishes to highlight 3 points. First, the humanitarian reset must translate into genuine transformations, not just structural reorganization. As one of the most disaster-prone countries, Indonesia has learned that effective humanitarian actions require strong national partnerships and sustained investment in preparedness, resilience, and local capacities. In Indonesia, disaster response involves not only the national government, but also local disaster management agencies and civil society organizations. This approach has become the cornerstone of our humanitarian practice. We therefore support reform efforts aimed at strengthening local-led actions,, and ensuring responses remain context-sensitive. Second, a stronger commitment to IHL and the protection of civilians is urgently needed. The erosion of respect for IHL has direct, devastating consequences for peacekeepers, civilians, and humanitarian personnel on the ground, something unfortunately we experienced firsthand. We also witnessed this in Palestine, where the humanitarian crisis has crossed into the systematic deprivation of fundamental economic and social rights. Schools, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure are destroyed. And as outlined by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in his report, starvation is used as a method of warfare. All of these actions dismantle the very foundations of IHL. Therefore, Indonesia calls on all parties to armed conflict to uphold their obligations under IHL, and the international community to ensure accountability towards violations. In line with this commitment, Indonesia actively supports international efforts to strengthen respect for IHL. Indonesia is part of the Ministerial Group for the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. Indonesia also serves as one of the co-chairs of the Global Initiative to Galvanize political commitment to IHL. I invite those who have yet to take part in this initiative to join and advance our collective commitment to IHL together. Third, humanitarian financing must be reformed to be more diversified, sustainable, and locally responsive. The sharp decline in humanitarian ODA is deeply alarming. This demands an urgent collective response from those with the means and obligations to act. Developed countries must fulfill their ODA commitments. This remains the foundation of the global humanitarian financing compact. At the same time, Indonesia recognizes the growing importance of complementarity resources to help fill the gap, including through private sector engagement and innovative financing approaches. These efforts must complement, not substitute. Mr. Chair, The humanitarian reset offers a genuine opportunity to advance these goals, but a reset must mean something real for the people it is meant to serve. Indonesia stands ready to contribute constructively to this collective endeavor. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative, the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I would like to begin by thanking my colleague from Spain for chairing this year's ECOSOC humanitarian segment. The Kingdom of the Netherlands aligns itself with the EU statement, and allow me to highlight 3 points in our national capacity. First, the Kingdom of the Netherlands is deeply concerned about the continued deterioration of the safety of humanitarian workers. Attacks against humanitarians are unacceptable, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands will continue to stand alongside aid workers everywhere. And that is why the Netherlands will increase its support to the inquiries branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This will strengthen our ability to investigate potential violations of international humanitarian law. To gather and process evidence, and to act upon the outcome of these investigations. To help ensure accountability for international crimes, we also call on countries to ratify and implement the Ljubljana-The Hague Convention. This convention will help to strengthen international cooperation with the aim of successfully investigating and prosecuting these crimes in domestic courts. Thank you. Second, humanitarian access remains obstructed while humanitarian needs continue to grow. Too often assistance cannot reach the people who need it most. The Netherlands calls on all parties to conflicts to provide full, unhindered humanitarian access. We remain committed to supporting humanitarian diplomacy efforts with our partners, Third, we acknowledge the extremely difficult choices humanitarian organizations continue to make as part of the Humanitarian Reset and UNAT reform. We support both initiatives to make humanitarian action more coordinated, more local, and more accountable. We call upon the humanitarian sector to sufficiently engage with member states on strategic direction and implementation of the reset. We also call upon more member states to provide humanitarian and flexible funding, which remains essential for effective and efficient humanitarian action. The Netherlands annually provides over $500 million US in humanitarian funding, the vast majority going to multiannual, flexible, and pooled funding. Mr. Chair, In conclusion, the Kingdom of the Netherlands is committed to ending impunity for violations of international law and international humanitarian law and will remain a reliable humanitarian partner. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Netherlands for that intervention and I give the floor to Brazil.

Mr. Chair, colleagues, Brazil aligns itself with the statement made by Kazakhstan on behalf of the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to IHL. This year's Humanitarian Affairs segment of ECOSOC comes at a particularly critical time. It offers an important opportunity to reflect on lessons learned, consider the challenges ahead and shape the course for more effective humanitarian action in the face of profound and growing needs. The humanitarian system is facing one of the most difficult moments in recent memory. —needs continue to rise while resources are shrinking. Humanitarian organizations are being asked to do much more, in more complex environments, with much less funding and under increasing operational and political constraints. This context demands reform. But reform cannot be reduced to cost-cutting. The complexity of crises and the rights of affected populations require flexible and context-sensitive approaches. —a narrow focus on cost-effectiveness risks sidelining vulnerable groups and undermining long-term humanitarian objectives. Efforts to reform and prioritize the humanitarian system must not come at the expense of the continuity of essential life-saving programmes. At the same time, rising humanitarian needs coincide with the growing politicization of aid and attempts to use assistance for political or military purposes. We must address humanitarian needs wherever they arise without selectivity or discrimination. We must grant and sustain access strictly in accordance with international humanitarian law. All parties must respect and protect humanitarian and medical personnel, facilities and operations. This is not optional. This is the law. Mr. Chair, Brazilians are proud of our humanitarian tradition. —embedded in our support for a system that is principled, inclusive, accountable and responsive to the needs of those most affected by crisis. Alongside China, France, Kazakhstan, Jordan, South Africa and the International Committee of the Red Cross, we have launched the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law, with a view to promoting a non-selective and preventive approach to compliance with IHL. We invite all countries committed to IHL to join this important and timely movement that sends a clear signal of hope to all those who suffer under the largest number of simultaneous conflicts in the world ever. We supported the Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, which reinforces the urgent need to protect humanitarian workers and those who enable life-saving assistance in situations of armed Conflict conflict. and other emergencies. Brazil openly welcomes nationals from countries as diverse as Haiti, Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine and Afghanistan. We have adopted innovative procedures through our National Committee for Refugees to expedite asylum processes and strengthen protection. These efforts, national and international, are mutually reinforcing. Strengthening humanitarian coordination is not only a technical challenge. In moments of scarcity, our collective responsibility is not only to make the system more efficient, but also to ensure that it remains guided by solidarity, humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Brazil, and I now give the floor to Pakistan.

Thank you, Mr. President.

As other colleagues have noted, we meet at a time when the world is facing a humanitarian emergency of extraordinary scale and complexity. From conflicts and foreign occupations to climate disasters, poverty, food insecurity, displacement, millions of people are being pushed to the edge of survival. At such a moment, humanitarian response importantly serves to reaffirm that humanity still has the capacity to act together. The theme before us aptly calls for transformation. We believe this transformation must be anchored in humanitarian principles, respect for international humanitarian law, stronger coordination, predictable financing, and a renewed commitment to prevention. The central test is straightforward: whether assistance reaches all people in need without discrimination, politicization, delay, or denial. Now, what does this entail?

In our view, first, international humanitarian law must be upheld in all situations, from armed conflict and foreign occupation.

Violations must not be normalized, excused, or ignored. First, safe, rapid, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access must be ensured. Second, the humanitarian reset must restore trust, effectiveness, and focus. It should strengthen principled humanitarian action, reduce fragmentation, improve delivery, reinforce accountability to affected people, and ensure that scarce resources are directed where needs are greatest. Thank you.

Third, humanitarian financing must become timely, flexible, and predictable. We should remember that chronic underfunding forces agencies to make impossible choices between food, shelter, medicine, and protection.

Fourth, humanitarian action must be better connected with development, climate adaptation, and disaster risk reduction. Emergency relief saves lives, but it is resilience that matters in the long run. Early warning, anticipatory action, preparedness, and nationally-led response capacities must be strengthened, particularly in vulnerable and disaster-prone countries. Fifth, and very important, we must reduce humanitarian needs by addressing root causes of conflict.

This requires political will.

Disputes must be resolved through dialogue, diplomacy, mediation, and peaceful settlement in accordance with the U.N. Charter and Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2788. President, humanitarian action is not an act of generosity. It is a duty of conscience. And a responsibility under the Charter. In this time of unprecedented needs, we must protect the principles, fund the response, respect international law, strengthen coordination, and pursue peace. The measure of our success will not be what we promise, but what we can deliver. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.

Doy las gracias al distinguido representante de Pakistán.

I thank the distinguished delegate of Pakistan, and I now give the floor to Poland.

Mr. President, let me start by expressing gratitude to Spain as the chair of the humanitarian affairs segment of the ECOSOC this year. Poland aligns itself with the statement delivered by Cyprus on behalf of the European Union. Mr. President, over the years we have witnessed the trampling of the international humanitarian law principles and the terrible suffering of civilians who bear the most severe consequences of the political decisions made by the aggressors. 2025 was yet another year in which attacks on humanitarian personnel increased. In all our actions, interventions and discussions, we should keep in mind that it is the HILF that enables effective humanitarian actions. We strongly condemn any violations and abuses of the humanitarian rights and IHL, and in armed conflicts and during humanitarian emergencies, including those committed against civilians, especially the most vulnerable ones—women, children, and persons with disabilities, members of religious minorities, or forcibly displaced persons. Strengthening accountability of IHL violations is key. We are deeply concerned with the rapidly growing number of people in urgent humanitarian need—millions of forcibly displaced, those living in poverty, experiencing food insecurity are a stain on our honour. Poland remains particularly alarmed by the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, resulting from the ongoing, unprovoked, illegal aggression by Russia. Our attention is also devoted to the humanitarian crises in Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan, among others. We acknowledge that the humanitarian system is overstretched and underfunded. Therefore, we must broaden donors' base and introduce incentives for private sectors and IFIs to engage. The system requires more reliability and predictability. Poland believes that in our humanitarian efforts we need to pave the way for development and recovery. To do so, we need to invest in resilience and help states come out of fragility. More emphasis is also required on prevention and early warning. If we want to decrease the number of those in need of humanitarian assistance, we must not only provide financial backing, but also address the root causes of humanitarian crises, including poverty, inequality, and adverse impacts of conflicts and climate change. While we recognize the imperfections of the humanitarian system, let me commend the leadership of OCHA and the USG Tom Fletcher in introducing necessary reforms to make the system more efficient and better coordinated. The task is far from over, and we still need to rethink how to prioritize and provide humanitarian aid effectively with less resources. We emphasize the need to align the Humanitarian Reset with the UNAID initiative to ensure coherence and break the silo approach. This is especially important in conflict and fragile settings, where multiple needs require comprehensive responses. In this context, let me also stress the vital role of local actors, as they are the drivers of change on the ground, and we must ensure that their voices are heard and their safety is ensured. Humanitarian coordinators within the UN system must be empowered. In the times many donors drastically cut their aid budgets, Poland has significantly increased its overall contribution to UN agencies. UNOCHA and the CBPFs are tangible proofs of our strong commitment to the UN system and multilateralism. Mr. President, Poland stands ready to further engage with the UN and the Member States to constructively support a more effective, fit-for-purpose humanitarian system. Thank you. We will further advocate for principled humanitarian action, safeguard humanitarian space, and oppose any attempts to undermine the delivery of humanitarian assistance. And I thank you.

Thank the distinguished representative of Poland. And I now give the floor to Sierra Leone.

Mr. President, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the 14 African members of the Economic and Social Council. We thank the Secretary-General, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, and all humanitarian actors for their tireless efforts in responding to growing humanitarian needs across the world under increasingly difficult and dangerous circumstances. We meet at a moment when humanitarian needs have reached unprecedented levels. While the resources available to address them continue to decline. An estimated 239 million people worldwide require humanitarian assistance, yet humanitarian actors have been compelled to prioritize a fraction of those in need as funding gaps continue to widen. The reality that the international community is focusing its effort on reaching the most vulnerable 87 million people— a stark reminder of the scale of the challenge before us. For Africa, these challenges are particularly acute. Across our continent, humanitarian needs have been driven by a complex interplay of armed conflict, terrorism, climate change, food insecurity, public health emergencies, displacement, and socio-economic shocks. From the devastating conflict in Sudan, which remains one of the world's largest humanitarian displacement crisis, to the persistent insecurity in the Sahel, instability in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Horn of Africa, and climate-induced emergencies in southern Africa and other crisis-affected regions, millions of Africans continue to face profound humanitarian hardship. Yet amid these challenges, Africa also offers important lessons in resilience, solidarity, and locally driven responses. Mr. President, the 14 African members of ECOSOC welcome ongoing efforts under the Humanitarian Reset and UN Haiti Initiative to strengthen humanitarian coordination, effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability. We support reforms that place people at the center of humanitarian action, reduce duplication, simplify processes, and ensure that scarce resources are directed where they can have the greatest impact. The ultimate test of these reforms, however, must be whether they improve outcomes for affected populations and strengthen the ability of humanitarian actors to reach those most in need. In this regard, we believe that localization must move from aspiration to reality. Local communities, national authorities, civil society organizations, Women-led groups and youth organizations are often the first responders and the last to leave. They possess the contextual knowledge, trust, and access that are indispensable for effective humanitarian action. We therefore call for greater investment in local capacities, more direct and flexible funding for national actors, and meaningful participation of local stakeholders in humanitarian decision-making. Thank you. Mr. President, the protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law remains fundamental obligations that must be upheld in all circumstances. We are deeply concerned by the increasing erosion of humanitarian norms and the alarming rise in attacks against civilians, humanitarian personnel, and civilian infrastructure. Across many conflicts, humanitarian access is constrained, aid workers face unacceptable risk, and violations of international humanitarian law continue with impunity. We condemn in the strongest terms all unlawful attacks on humanitarian personnel, including national and locally recruited personnel, and we call on states to ensure full, prompt, impartial, effective, and transparent investigations into every incident, and to hold perpetrators to account through appropriate national and international legal mechanisms. The 14 African members of ECOSOC reaffirm that international humanitarian law is not optional. Its respect is essential for the protection of civilians, the delivery of life-saving assistance, and the preservation of our shared humanity. We call upon all parties to conflict to ensure safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access, and to fulfill their obligations under international law. Thank you, President Zuma. We further emphasize that accountability for violations of international humanitarian law is critical to reversing the current erosion of humanitarian norms and restoring confidence in the rules-based international system. Mr. President, financing remains perhaps the greatest challenge confronting humanitarian action today. The widening gap between humanitarian needs and available resources is forcing difficult choices that leaves millions without food, healthcare, water, protection, and other essential services. This trend is unsustainable. Humanitarian appeals remain significantly underfunded, while the frequency, complexity, and duration of crisis continue to increase. The African members therefore call for renewed international solidarity and burden sharing. We encourage donors to provide timely, predictable, flexible, and multi-year funding that allows humanitarian actors to respond effectively and plan beyond immediate emergencies. We also underscore the importance of strengthening pooled funding mechanisms, supporting anticipatory action, and investing in resilient building and disaster risk reduction. We further stress that humanitarian financing must be accompanied by greater investment in climate adaptation, resilience, and sustainable development, particularly for countries and communities that have contributed least to the climate crisis, yet bear a disproportionate share of its humanitarian consequences. We also recognize the important role of the African Union, regional economic communities, and national disaster management institutions in supporting prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. Humanitarian action alone cannot address the root causes of vulnerability. Sustainable solutions require stronger linkages between humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts. The humanitarian-development-peace nexus remains particularly relevant for Africa, where protracted crises demand approaches that simultaneously save lives, build resilience, and support long-term recovery. Mr. President, as we look ahead, the international community must ensure that ongoing humanitarian reforms translate into tangible results for affected populations. We must build a humanitarian system that is more inclusive, more locally led, more accountable, and more adequately resourced.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Canada.

Thank you, Mr. President, and Canada thanks Spain for convening this year's Humanitarian Affairs Segment. Year after year, we gather in this forum to listen, to reflect, and to speak with conviction. We are reminded of the hard truth that the global humanitarian situation is dire, and we reaffirm our shared commitment to respond. But this is no longer enough. Since we last convened, the humanitarian landscape has continued to shift profoundly. Crises today are not isolated events. They are complex, they are interconnected, and they are increasingly long-lasting. The space for principled humanitarian action is shrinking as aid becomes increasingly politicized, and the demands on humanitarian actors and the risks they face continue to grow. We know that as funding contracts, the choices before us become increasingly critical. But we must be clear-eyed. Scarcity does not reduce need. It magnifies the weight of our decisions. The humanitarian sector's required transformation is helping us to better focus our collective efforts and to prioritize life-saving assistance. For Canada's part, we have pivoted our 2026 humanitarian allocations to respond to hyper-prioritized needs in both large-scale crises and those that have faded from immediate attention. But at the same time, we also recognize that reform can only get us so far. In this constrained environment, we must also stay focused on what reduces humanitarian needs in the first place, namely investment in the future. Investing in prevention and long-term solutions in protracted crises is essential. But ultimately, any international response will only succeed if it is anchored in the strong protection of and the full respect for international humanitarian law. Monsieur le Président, nous attendons—

Mr. President, we are seeing that these suffering civilians becoming Alarmingly mundane. Lack of respect for international humanitarian law contributes to exacerbating gaps when it comes to assistance and limits our capacity to reach the people who are most in need. At the same time, attacks against humanitarian and medical workers have reached unprecedented levels, jeopardizing the lives of humanitarian workers and hampering the delivery of vital aid. We count on humanitarian actors to strengthen the protection they provide through their interventions, but member states, for— on their part, must in good faith adhere to their obligations when it comes to international law, humanitarian law, and create necessary conditions for the protection of civilians. Through support as donors and through diplomatic action, Canada is committed to strengthening respect for IHL and to supporting coordinated humanitarian action based upon principles, especially through efforts toward humanitarian reform and other major initiatives such as the humanitarian— Humanity in Times of War Initiative and the Declaration on the Protection of humanitarian personnel. President, allow me to be clear. At this time, frank reflection is not a luxury. It is crucial. We recognize with lucidity that even more difficulties may await us. But the evidence upon which we base our decisions must be even more robust, and therefore, collective efforts to strengthen data and analysis are crucial for the credibility of the global humanitarian system.

I thank the distinguished representative of Canada, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Costa Rica.

President, distinguished delegations, Costa Rica is proud to participate in this forum that brings together member states, entities, and parts of the UN system, civil society, and regional organizations with a view to engaging in the transformations required to strengthen humanitarian assistance, fully respecting humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law. The humanitarian system is going through a critical and decisive time. Costa Rica welcomes the call to engage in transformation, but we wish to underscore a fundamental premise. Transformation that's decoupled from principles is not progress, but rather a— Setback.

Thank you.

This is based on three essential elements. First of all, multilateral collective action is the only way of achieving a meaningful transformation. The magnitude and complexity of current humanitarian challenges are above the response capacity of any state or organization alone. Costa Rica supports efforts to transform the humanitarian system. This transformation must strengthen local action, to make financing more agile and ensure that assistance reaches those that need it the most more rapidly and in a more agile way. It's necessary to focus on the principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence, searching for more independence with humanitarian action based on principles. Secondly, international humanitarian law is an obligation and it implies above all effectively protecting the civilian population. The growing frequency of attacks against civilians, hospitals, and humanitarian personnel, in addition to disinformation campaigns that erode the humanitarian space, must not be normalized. As party to the political declaration on strengthening the protection of civilian populations from humanitarian consequences from the use of explosive weapons, in densely populated areas. Costa Rica urges all parties to refrain from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Defending IHL also involves ensuring that these violations do not go unpunished, and ultimately they must be documented and addressed through the international mechanisms already in place. Thirdly, a genuine transformation requires us to address gender inequality throughout the whole humanitarian cycle. The system must be able to tackle inequalities in all of their steps, from coordination and the mobilization of resources to the implementation and achievement of results and assessing results. Women and girls bear a disproportionate burden in cases of conflict and crises, while the organizations that support them continue to receive insufficient resources. Ensuring that these realities are reflected throughout the humanitarian cycle is not a secondary consideration, but rather an essential condition to achieve an effective transition. Costa Rica launches an appeal to member states and donors to ensure sufficient financing that is also predictable and flexible to ensure that it reaches local organizations led by women. Excellencies, the magnitude of human suffering requires—

Thank you.

A response that is up to the mark of current challenges. We continue to promote a humanitarian system that is based on principles, that is results-focused, and that is focused on people. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Costa Rica, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mozambique.

Mr. President, I speak from our direct experience. Our country has faced recurring cyclones, floods, and drought alongside the prolonged humanitarian consequences of conflict in the north of the country. That experience reinforces our conviction that humanitarian action must be transformed, not just scaled up. Anchored on humanitarian principles, Mozambique reaffirms that all humanitarian action must be grounded in the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. These are not procedural formalities. They are the foundation of trust that makes access possible. Respect for international humanitarian law must be upheld at all times and under all circumstances. Circumstances, the protection of civilian, humanitarian personnel, and civilian infrastructure is non-negotiable. On the humanitarian reset, we support efforts to reduce duplication, streamline processes, expand anticipatory action, and shift power toward local actors. Local communities are invariably first responders. They must be treated as as genuine partners, not as passive beneficiaries. More resources must reach people in need rather than being absorbed by administrative layers. On coordination, effective response requires a whole-of-society approach that leverages comparative advantages across governments, UN entities, civil societies, development partners, and financial institutions, and that bridge the humanitarian-development-peacebuilding nexus, rather than treating each in isolation. On funding, the gap between humanitarian needs and available resources remains deeply concerning. We call for more predictable, flexible, and adequate financing, including stronger support for the local and national organizations that deliver the last mile. And finally, we take this opportunity to reiterate our gratitude to the UN system, humanitarian organizations, regional partners, and member states for their assistance after the recent floods that recently struck Mozambique. I thank you, Mr. President. Lula, gracias.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mozambique, and I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Thank you, Mr. President. We are seeing appalling humanitarian crises around the world, unprecedented conflict, with the most armed conflicts around the world since World War II. As humanitarian needs grow, collective action matters now more than ever. The United Kingdom welcomes this opportunity for the international community to come together and strengthen delivery. Last month, the United Kingdom convened partners to address how we can respond more effectively in a more resource-constrained environment. As my Foreign Secretary outlined, this requires working differently and strengthening partnerships, delivering real impact. In this context, our focus must be practical. How do we deliver faster, more effectively, and for those who need it most. 3 points. First, we need to work to build a more inclusive and locally-led humanitarian system centered on the needs and decisions of communities and local actors, and work together to define how international organizations can better support and facilitate local efforts. We need to build a system as local as possible, as international as necessary. Thank you. Necessary. Second, we must place protection at the center of our efforts and uphold humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law. Attacks on civilians and humanitarian personnel and restrictions on access continue to undermine life-saving assistance. This is unacceptable. We need tangible action to protect civilians, enable safe and unimpeded access, remove bureaucratic constraints, and ensure accountability for violations. The Secretary-General's report highlights the specific and heightened risks facing women and girls, and as we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict this week, we recognize conflict-related sexual violence as one manifestation of this wider trend. We must safeguard services for women and girls. The UK is working to strengthen protection through prevention, survivor-centered response and by keeping protection at the heart of our humanitarian action. Third, to translate rhetoric into results, we must align financing, partnerships, and tools behind delivery. For the UK, this means investing in approaches that maximize impact, including anticipatory action and prearranged finance, because acting before disasters strike saves lives and reduces costs. Thank you. It means scaling up cash-based assistance, which the UK has long championed, supporting local economies and empowering people to meet their own needs. And it means investing in data and responsible use of emerging technologies to inform better, faster decisions. The challenge before us is clear: to move from commitments to delivery and from process to impact. Thank you. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Peru.

Gracias, Presidente. El peruano es—

Thank you, President. Peru thanks you for convening this segment in a context marked by increasingly complex and protracted humanitarian crises. Armed conflicts, climate change, forced displacements, food insecurity, and health emergencies continue to affect millions of people the world over. Against this backdrop, Peru reaffirms its commitment to the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence that guide humanitarian action. On this basis, we have identified 3 priorities for the international community. First of all, ensuring respect for IHL. Secondly, strengthening the link between humanitarian response, resilience of sustainable development, and thirdly, investing in reducing the risk of disasters by strengthening national capacities to decrease future needs. As a state party to the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols, Peru believes that respecting international humanitarian law and protecting civilian populations and ensuring safe, secure, and unhindered access of humanitarian assistance are absolutely essential conditions that are required to effectively tackle crises. What's more, we believe that responding to current crises need to be more coordinated, predictable, and sustainable. To achieve this, it's essential to strengthen the multilateral system and the ability of the UN and its partners. In this endeavor, it's a priority to mobilize adequate resources in a timely and flexible manner. At the same time, it's essential to strengthen the prevention and preparation capacities to improve future humanitarian responses. As a country that is highly exposed to environmental phenomena and the adverse effects of climate change, Peru underscores how important it is to include DRR in our mitigation and recovery strategies. The implementation of the Sendai Framework and the strengthening of national risk— disaster risk management systems are essential to reduce the vulnerability of populations and to strengthen the prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery capacities. This way we can ensure that we are better protecting the most vulnerable and strengthening the resilience of communities to future crises. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the UN, and in the framework of the reform efforts engaged in as part of UN80, we must renew our collective commitment to effective humanitarian protection that is based on principles and that's able to respond to the challenges of our time. To this end, Peru reaffirms our willingness to continue to work constructively with the international community to strengthen the global humanitarian response and to contribute to building a more effective multilateral system with more solidarity that's better prepared to tackle future challenges. Thank you very much.

Doy las gracias.

I thank the distinguished representative of Peru.. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Germany.

Thank you, Chair. Let me first express our sincere appreciation to Spain for the exemplary leadership in organizing this year's ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment. Further, Germany aligns itself with the statement of the European Union, and we would like to make two short remarks in national capacity. First, on the humanitarian system. Germany will remain a major bilateral donor. We strongly support the humanitarian reset and we believe in the UN Haiti process. We appreciate the important work OCHA and Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher are undertaking in driving the reform process forward, while at the same time being confronted with multiple severe and compounding humanitarian crises. The humanitarian reform is an immensely challenging endeavor. It requires our collective support if we ultimately want to overcome successfully critical challenges such as overcoming parallel structures, better coordinating services and data across the UN agencies, strengthen the pooled fund system, and empower local actors, just to name a few. However, even with the best reset efforts, and with the optimum hyper-prioritization, ultimately the financing of what then remains does not add up. We still will have to find additional resources to cover the gap, and we call on all donors and member states, those who are able, and frankly most of us are able to do it, to step up and address the funding gap. Second, over the past few years we have seen a massive rise in the systematic attacks on civilians humanitarian workers, and civilian infrastructure—all grave violations of international humanitarian law. We want to express our deep appreciation for the work of all humanitarian personnel on the ground, who are often working under extremely dangerous and unacceptable circumstances in Ukraine, in Sudan, in Gaza, and many other places. They, we believe, deserve more than our words of solidarity. They deserve concrete, and immediate action, and for that we have to continue to engage in tireless humanitarian diplomacy. We have to demand with insistence for unrestricted humanitarian access. Protection of civilians must be better embedded in military doctrines. We must collect data on attacks in order to be prepared for future attacks, and most importantly, must hold accountable those perpetrators of these crimes. Germany will remain a steadfast defender of international humanitarian law, and we will remain an active member of the ICRC's global initiative to galvanize respect for international humanitarian law, as well as the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. And we urge member states who have not yet done so to join us in these important initiatives. In conclusion, Chair, The roadmap for the reset is clear. The legal framework to protect international humanitarian law is in place. What we need is accelerated implementation, and what we need is collective will of all of us. For our part, Germany, we stand ready to contribute. I thank you.

Doi laas graaasias, Distinguished Representative.

I thank the Distinguished Representative of Germany and give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of the Russian Federation.

Distinguished President, we're concerned by the continued worsening of the humanitarian situation throughout the world. The numbers we've heard during this segment indicate the scale of the challenge. However, these numbers represent the fate of people for whom humanitarian assistance often represents their last hope— for survival. At the same time, the humanitarian system itself is undergoing a difficult stage and is increasingly unable to meet growing needs with shrinking resources. Under these conditions, it's especially important to recall how the UN humanitarian system was created and developed. It was intended not as a mechanism for political pressure and not as an instrument for external management of crises, but rather as a system to support affected states and populations during emergencies. This understanding was enshrined in G. Resolution 46/182, which affirmed the leading role of the affected state in the organization, coordination, and delivery of humanitarian aid. This principled foundation cannot be eroded under the pretext of reform, transformation, or so-called increased effectiveness. Any change to the humanitarian system must be discussed openly with full participation from states as well as based on consensus. Humanitarian efforts hinge upon trust. To maintain this trust, humanitarian organizations must act in close coordination with the governments of affected countries, strengthening existing national and local systems, rather than creating parallel mechanisms. It is through this approach and not through circumventing states through a selective work with certain NGOs or communities, as they say, that the real localization of humanitarian activities should take place in our view. Maintaining trust in the humanitarian system is not possible without a responsible push toward information. Information disseminated by humanitarian workers must be objective, impartial, and verified. Spreading unproven accusations undermines trust in the system, politicizes humanitarian activities, and ultimately hampers the delivery of aid to those in need. Given the acute funding deficit, humanitarian bodies ought to focus on their main tasks. Saving lives. The priority should be accorded to food, water, medical aid, housing, and other essential needs. At the same time, the prioritization of aid should not be turned into a political cherry-picking of crises. It's unacceptable to focus attention on certain emergencies to the detriment of others. In this regard, we are concerned by the uneven financing of humanitarian calls to action. And situation involving so-called forgotten crises. At the same time, it is crucial to break the vicious cycle of dependency on humanitarian aid in protracted crises. For this, we need investment in development, restoration of infrastructure, job creation, and strengthening national capacity. Cooperation of humanitarian and development bodies must be strengthened while maintaining a clear delimitation of their mandates. We are also concerned by the destructive impact of unilateral coercive measures. It's important to note that humanitarian exemptions do not work, and this causes suffering to the humanitarian organizations themselves. Distinguished President, Russia remains committed to international humanitarian law and will continue to support humanitarian efforts through the UN as well as bilaterally. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative and vice president of ECOSOC, Armenia.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies. We meet at a time when humanitarian needs are reaching unprecedented levels. Armed conflicts, climate-related and other disasters continue to drive displacement, deepen vulnerabilities, and place immense pressure on humanitarian systems worldwide. Against this backdrop, preserving predictable, sustainable, and adequately resourced humanitarian financing has become more important than ever. Deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, the denial of international humanitarian assistance, and persistent violation of international humanitarian law continue to undermine the very foundations of humanitarian action. Equally concerning are the inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners of war, as well as the continued denial of access to international humanitarian actors, including the International Committee of the Red Cross. Such practices not only exacerbate human suffering but also erode respect respect for international humanitarian law, foster impunity, and undermine prospects for sustainable peace and reconciliation. Mr. President, having experienced the profound consequences of humanitarian crisis, Armenia remains convinced that humanitarian action must be accompanied by sustained effort to promote recovery, build resilience, and create conditions for long-term inclusion. The influx of approximately 130,000 refugees from Karabakh since 2020, including a significant influx of more than 115,000 within a matter of days in September 2023, has further strained the national resources and capacities. In close partnership with the UN agencies, the government of Armenia has implemented policies aimed at the protection, inclusion of refugees and other vulnerable groups, through approaches anchored in the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. These efforts focused on access to adequate housing, employment and livelihood opportunities, skills development, inclusive social protection, and quality public services, while strengthening the resilience of both refugees and host communities. Mr. President, Member States, parties to conflict, the United Nations, and humanitarian organizations must ensure full respect for and adherence to the humanitarian principles. Humanitarian organizations must uphold the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence in their operations. In this regard, strengthening the capacity of the UN to prevent and respond to humanitarian emergencies while ensuring effective assistance on the ground remains essential to safeguarding human rights and dignity, particularly in situations of armed conflict. Armenia remains committed to supporting collective efforts aimed at ensuring protection and assistance for all those affected by crisis. I thank you.

Doi laas grazie, sir.

I thank the distinguished representative of Armenia and Vice President of ECOSOC. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ukraine.

I thank you for convening this important meeting. Russia's aggression continues to generate immense humanitarian needs across Ukraine. Millions of civilians remain affected by daily attacks, displacement, and the destruction of homes, schools, hospitals. and crucial critical infrastructure. Humanitarian needs are particularly acute in frontline communities and territories which are now temporarily under the occupation of the Russian Federation. Against this backdrop, we express our sincere gratitude to the United Nations, its agencies, funds and programmes, as well as all humanitarian partners working courageously on the ground in Ukraine. The UN humanitarian operation remains one of the largest in the world. Since 2022, assistance delivered under UN-coordinated response plans has exceeded $11 billion, providing life-saving support for millions of Ukrainians. We particularly command humanitarian personnel who continue their work under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions, often in areas subjected to direct daily attacks. Such effort requires sustained resources. We appreciate the support already provided towards the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which is now financed by almost one half. However, significant needs remain, and it is essential that this funding gap be closed. The past winter was exceptionally difficult. Russia intensified attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, leaving millions of civilians facing repeated power outages, disruptions to heating and water supplies, and severe hardship during the coldest months of the year. Throughout this period, humanitarian workers stood shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians. They shared their risks, walked through blackouts and helped communities endure. In many ways, we faced these challenges together, suffering together and overcoming them together. Today, preparations for the next winter are already underway. Russia is increasingly relying on tactics aimed at terrorizing the civilian population and making normal life impossible. Adequate funding and early preparedness are therefore essential to saving lives. Effective humanitarian action also requires access. The United Nations must have safe and unhindered access to the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including those territories which are now under temporary occupation by Russia. In this context, we draw attention to the dire humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky— it is in the Kherson Oblast— where thousands of civilians continue to face acute shortages of food, water, and medical care while Russia fully blocks humanitarian access. Access must also be given to Ukrainian citizens unlawfully held in Russia and in the occupied territories, including prisoners of war and civilian detainees. Numerous reports continue to document torture, ill-treatment, and denial of medical care. Humanitarian organizations and international monitoring mechanisms must be allowed to reach them. We're equally concerned by the growing number of refugees.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ukraine and give the floor to the distinguished representative of Guatemala.

Señor Presidente, Guatemala agradece.

Mr. President, Guatemala is grateful for this opportunity to participate in this ECOSOC segment dedicated to the strengthening of humanitarian assistance against the backdrop of unprecedented challenges, and we align ourselves with the statement by the G77. Current crises are increasingly complex, protracted, and interconnected. Humanitarian needs have increased to unprecedented levels while the resources available are seeing growing downward pressure. In this scenario, we reaffirm the value of multilateralism as a pillar to organized effective responses and the importance of strengthening the nexus between humanitarian action, sustainable development, and peacebuilding. In our national experience, Guatemala has engaged in a comprehensive approach based on multi-stakeholder coordination, evidence-based decision-making, and the principle of national ownership. Through joint work between the government and the UN system and humanitarian partners, more than 700,000 people in a situation of vulnerability have benefited, in particular in contexts of food insecurity, climate events, and human mobility. It's also important to underscore the support that the United States have provided to Guatemala, in particular by—

Thank you.

Providing channeled financing through the UN system. In 2026, our country received $70 million from the Regional Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean, managed by OCHA, contributing to strengthening humanitarian responses and care for the most vulnerable populations. Furthermore, our humanitarian response plan for 2025 is aligned with the global humanitarian system and has identified 2.2 million people in humanitarian need. This figure reflects the convergence between food insecurity, malnutrition, human mobility, and extreme climate phenomena. Guatemala has fixed a goal of providing support to 2 million people through a coordinated multi-sectoral response. Nevertheless, there are still significant challenges, in particular the fragmentation of financing, its limited predictability, and the need to strengthen national leadership. That's why Guatemala underscores the need to advance with more flexible, accessible, and continuous financing mechanisms. President— Guatemala underscores its commitment to principle-based humanitarian action that's focused on people and geared towards concrete responses with particular attention on women and girls and adolescents. This is not only a humanitarian responsibility, it's an investment in peace, resilience, and in the future of our societies. We are convinced that it is only through effective, inclusive international cooperation with solidarity that we will be able to respond to current challenges and move towards a more efficient, fair, and sustainable humanitarian system. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

The President, I thank the distinguished representative of Guatemala and give the floor to the distinguished representative of Colombia.

Gracias, señor presidente.

Thank you, President. Colombia thanks you for convening this segment of ECOSOC, and we express our thanks to the Secretary-General for the report presented on the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance. And we thank you, sir, for your leadership of this session today. My delegation aligns itself with the statement made by Uruguay on behalf of the G7/T7, and in our national capacity, we wish to underscore the following 3 points. First of all, Colombia reaffirms that respect for international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles must remain the basis for all humanitarian responses. Furthermore, the protection of civilians, civilian infrastructure, and humanitarian personnel must remain at the very heart of these collective efforts and should not be interpreted discretionally. This is why Colombia participates actively in the Global Initiative for Strengthening IHL and co-chairs the pillar on peace and IHL. Furthermore, and as a founding member of the Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, we reiterate that that the people providing humanitarian assistance must be able to do their job safely, without hindrance, and without any type of discrimination, in full respect of international law. Secondly, in the search for strengthening national capacities, we have felt that it's essential to improve coordination and capacities in order to respond to increasingly complex humanitarian challenges in our country. To this end, we recently created the National Commission on International Humanitarian Law, CONADI, as an institutional space to strengthen the implementation, dissemination, and follow-up of IHL. We're convinced that the most effective actions are the ones that are geared towards strengthening national institutions through coordination between stakeholders and recognizing the fundamental role of the communities affected. Thirdly, my country has made progress in our national responsibility as a state to address the causes and consequences of vulnerabilities in a sustainable manner. That's why in December 2025, we adopted Document COMPES 4180 of— on lasting solutions for the victims of forced displacement, which is a longstanding public policy that integrates the response to humanitarian— protracted humanitarian crises in our country with goals including social inclusion, access to rights, and territorial development. This experience shows the importance of having predictable, flexible, and sustainable financing that enables states to advance from immediate responses to more lasting solutions. President Colombia reaffirms its commitment to principle-based humanitarian action. That is focused on people and backed by effective international cooperation. Thank you very much, President.

The President, I thank the distinguished representative of Colombia and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Norway.

Thank you, President, and good afternoon, colleagues. Let me begin by thanking you for the interesting program at the high-level panels and the side events this week. Norway supports the overarching theme for this year's humanitarian affairs segment and agrees that the challenges we need to address are indeed unprecedented. In this regard, I would like to highlight 4 points. First, the main obstacle to reaching people in need with principled humanitarian assistance is the lack of political will to uphold international humanitarian law and to facilitate access. To overcome this, we need the strong leadership and voice of the United Nations, of humanitarian organizations, and of member states. President, this is a responsibility that lies on all of us. Norway urges all member states to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians. Second, reform of the UN and of the humanitarian system must accelerate. We recognize that a lot of progress has been made and that organizations have gone through painful restructuring processes at the same time as they continue to deliver for people in need, and we thank you for this.

Thank you.

Still, at country level, we need to see more collaboration. We expect full support for the humanitarian reset and the empowered resident coordinator— humanitarian coordinators to implement the changes that must happen. And we expect radical transparency from UN agencies and humanitarian organizations on progress and clarity on what you need from member states and donors. Third, we must improve the quality of humanitarian funding. We welcome recent contributions to OCHA's pooled funds and we value mechanisms such as the CERF and the DREF. But for such funding to be able to reach those in need, a system must already be in place. Core funding is an enabler of humanitarian action. Unearmarked and direct funding to UN agencies, to the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, and to international and local NGOs is a necessary part of the burden-sharing approach that we all must be part of. Finally, humanitarian action must be inclusive and gender responsive. Effective protection and assistance require addressing the specific needs of women and girls, LGBTQI+ people, and people with disabilities. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Norway and give the floor to the distinguished representative of Thailand.

Mr. President, thank you so much. Thailand aligns itself with the statement. Delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I would like to deliver the following statement in its national capacity. It is projected that nearly 240 million people will be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2026. Indeed, we continue to see attacks on civilians, humanitarian personnel, and healthcare facilities in violation of the core principles of international humanitarian law. Climate-related disasters and extreme weather events are also intensifying displacement and humanitarian needs, and resources, as we all know, are stretched. So the picture is indeed concerning. Therefore, what we need is a humanitarian system that is more agile, coherent, cost-effective, and impactful. In this regard, And as a country with a longstanding tradition of humanitarian diplomacy, Thailand welcomes the Humanitarian Reset Initiative and the New Humanitarian Compact. I would like to underscore the following 3 points. First, humanitarian assistance must be timely, non-discriminatory, and not be politicized, but instead should be grounded in humanitarian principles and respect for human rights. Humanitarian action should reach all affected based on their needs and with priorities given to protecting the most vulnerable, including children, women, and girls. The design and delivery of humanitarian aid must therefore be independent and impartial while addressing existing inequalities that these groups face and protect their basic rights. Thanks. Second, humanitarian and development projects should complement each other. Humanitarian programs must engage with local communities and support local infrastructure to build resilience in the long term. Greater attention should also be paid to displaced persons, whose displacement is increasingly driven by adverse effects of climate change, climate-related disasters, and pandemics. And finally, resource constraints have forced regions with emerging and projected crisis to compete for financial support. Donors, aid recipients, the private sector, and relevant partners therefore need to work hand in hand to ensure predictable and adequate funding. While funding through large pool funds is important, we must also enhance funding for local organizations and increase flexible and multi-year funding for long-term preparedness, resilience building, and anti— anticipatory action. Mr. President, the context in which we operate is more complex and challenging than ever. We must therefore adapt with compassion and drive and make strategic use of the resources available to ensure a reset that truly delivers. Thailand, of course, stands ready to work with our partners in this endeavor. Thank you so much for your kind attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Thailand and give the floor to the distinguished representative of South Africa.

Mr. President, My delegation aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the African members of ECOSOC, the G77 plus China, and the Global Initiative on IHL. We thank Spain for convening this general debate of the ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment under the theme Strengthening Humanitarian Assistance, Upholding Humanitarian Principles and International Law, and Reinforcing Coordination, Funding, Delivery, and the impact for people in need, which takes place against the backdrop of a challenging humanitarian landscape with protracted conflicts, growing humanitarian needs, and a severely constrained fiscal environment. The Secretary-General's report provides a sobering overview of humanitarian emergencies. Armed conflict remains a primary driver of humanitarian crisis. It deepens suffering, accelerates Displacement destroys livelihoods and places unbearable pressures on already stretched humanitarian resources. The most vulnerable—women, girls, and persons with disabilities—disproportionately bear the brunt of this burden. South Africa remains deeply concerned about the increasing trend of disregard of IHL. We renew our call on parties to armed conflict to exercise restraint and adhere to the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution, and to ensure safe, rapid, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access. In reaffirming our political commitment to IHL, we invite member states that have not yet done so to consider joining the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law. On humanitarian law and participate in the High-Level Conference on Humanity in War, scheduled to take place in Jordan on December 7th, 2026. Mr. President, climate change and environmental degradation are intensifying humanitarian needs in regions such as ours, which often face severe flooding resulting in loss of life, internal displacement, and damage critical infrastructure. This reminds us that humanitarian action cannot be separated from disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, resilience building, and development financing. In this regard, we underscore the importance of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus in reducing vulnerability and dependence. South Africa stresses that reform efforts under the UNAID and Humanitarian Reset must strengthen, not weaken, the humanitarian system. We reiterate that efficiency must never come at the expense of protection, principled humanitarian action, or accountability. The protection of civilians remains a parameter of our collective humanity. Only through renewed solidarity, strengthened multilateral cooperation, development-centered resilience, and faithful adherence to the rules of war can we preserve humanity and ensure that no one is left behind. I thank you.

I thank South Africa and give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba.

Thank you, President. President, we align ourselves with the statement by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China. The international community is facing a raft of profoundly interconnected crises. We are seeing a proliferation of armed conflicts, increase in the negative impact of climate change, food insecurity, and forced displacements. And at the same time, we are seeing an increase in difficulties accessing basic health, education, drinking water, and sanitation services. Global humanitarian needs are growing at a rate that is well above the response capacities available. Thank you. The humanitarian calls of the United Nations continue to see significant deficits in financing, which limits the abilities of humanitarian agencies to meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations. It's urgent to mobilize sufficient financial resources that are predictable and sustainable for humanitarian assistance, and for these to reach the people that need them without conditions. We reiterate that all humanitarian assistance must be provided in strict adherence to the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence as established in Resolution 46.182 of the General Assembly. Cuba reaffirms that respect for national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the political independence of states is an essential requirement for effective and legitimate humanitarian assistance. No crisis should be used as a pretext for the interference in the internal affairs of states or for the imposition of external political agendas. President, we call out the humanitarian— the devastating humanitarian impact of unilateral coercive measures that block economic and social development and have a direct effect on the enjoyment of fundamental human rights. For more than 60 years, Cuba has faced a brutal embargo that has now reached extreme levels with an energy blockade and so-called secondary measures, as was seen during the recent visit to Cuba by OCHA. The energy blockade is having a direct effect on electricity generation, the functioning of hospitals, schools, and other social institutions, the distribution of water, transport, farm production, and the provision of food and medications. A lack of fuel is preventing close— is preventing close to 50% of the medication produced in Cuba from being distributed over the last few months. And the UN has recently declared that 170 containers of essential products have— that should be reaching Cuba. And this blockade is in place and it is very harmful. This is also in addition to threats of military aggression, um, causing a humanitarian crisis and so much harm. The Cuban people will defend their independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. And above and beyond the, um, deprivations and suffering that we are experiencing, we will, um, prevail over this humanitarian crisis. We are a, uh, brave and conscious people with highly qualified human resources, and a good education, health, and science system.

Thank you, says the President, and I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nicaragua. Nicaragua.

Nicaragua aligns itself with the statement made by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China. We are meeting at a time in which humanitarian challenges are the result of profound historic inequalities and unfair international economic system, the adverse effects of climate change, and the persistence of unilateral coercive measures that are an attack against the sovereignty of states and the well-being of peoples. These realities are aggravating humanitarian needs, in particular those of developing countries, limiting their advance towards a decent life and sustainable development. Solidarity, respectful international cooperation, multilateralism, and full respect for sovereignty are essential elements required to address these challenges. Nicaragua reaffirms its commitment to the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as the functioning of coordination under the framework of the UN. Humanitarian action must alleviate suffering, protect populations, and preserve dignity without ever being used as an instrument of political pressure or— Thank you. Interference in our internal affairs. All assistance must be provided respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international humanitarian law, guaranteeing safe, timely access without discrimination and without any conditions whatsoever. [SPEAKING SPANISH] Strengthening coordination, financing, and the impact of aid requires us to address the structural causes of crises. And so in this regard, Nicaragua can condemns and firmly rejects unilateral coercive measures which are against international law and the UN Charter that aggravate humanitarian conditions that undermine national development efforts and limit the response capacities of states. When we talk about current humanitarian challenges, we must turn our attention to the situation faced by our brother country, Cuba. Nicaragua reiterates its unshakeable solidarity with Cuba that continues to suffer from the consequences of the economic, trade, and financial embargo imposed by the United States, as well as other unilateral coercive measures that gravely affect their access to food, medication, fuel, medical equipment, and other essential goods for the well-being of their people. We call for the immediate and unconditional lifting of these illegal and unjust measures that cause human suffering and that hinder the development efforts of the Cuban people. President, we express our profound concern over the grave humanitarian situation faced by the kindred Palestinian people, particularly on the Gaza Strip, as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression. The loss of thousands of human lives, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, the forced displacement and restrictions on the access to humanitarian aid have caused a tragedy that requires an urgent response from the international community. Nicaragua reaffirms its solidarity to the Palestinian people and calls for an immediate halt to the Israeli aggression, respect for international law and international humanitarian law, as well as full and unhindered humanitarian access. President, the humanitarian response must be coupled with the strengthening of the national prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery capacities for disasters. Nicaragua, which is a country that is very, um, exposed to extreme natural phenomena, has developed comprehensive risk management models community organization Protection of Families, convinced that prevention and preparedness and the participation of communities are essential for saving lives.

The Chair thanks Nicaragua and gives the floor to the distinguished representative of Myanmar.

Mr. President, I thank you for convening this meeting. I also thank the Secretary-General and Under-Secretary-General Fletcher for their statements. Myanmar aligns itself with the statement of the G77 and China.

Thank you.

Mr. President, since the illegal coup in 2021, Myanmar is facing the worst humanitarian crisis in our recent history as a direct result of the military junta's systematic campaign of violence, indiscriminate airstrikes against civilians, and weaponization of humanitarian aid. Over 3.6 million people are internally displaced. Almost 22 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. According to OCHA, 16.2 million people are resulted from the humanitarian shocks of conflict and earthquake. As the humanitarian situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate, I wish to recommend the following course of actions to the international community. Firstly, mitigate the weaponization of humanitarian assistance. The military junta has traditionally weaponized aid by hindering access, blocking its delivery, and imposing administrative barriers, particularly in conflict-affected areas. Well-intentioned humanitarian diplomacy and engagement are readily exploited by the military junta to manufacture legitimacy whitewash their crimes, and commit further atrocities. Principles and effective humanitarian response should therefore be channeled through coordination with appropriate actors and relevant stakeholders. Second, reinforce cross-border and local assistance. Local actors have access, knowledge, trust, and acceptance from communities, which are integral to delivering timely and effective humanitarian responses. In this regard, we thank those member states and UN agencies for extending their support to our local and ethnic partners through cross-border assistance. We are of the view that the localization effort should go beyond surface level by complementing existing local networks centering local agency and incorporating their voices at a decision-making level. Third, provide direct, flexible, and predictable funding. Tailoring funding eligibility and structures to local context will ensure accessible responses that match local realities. Direct and sustained funding will also foster long-term development in community resilience at a at the grassroots level that can withstand further future shocks, strategically optimizing its impact. Despite facing many challenges, through the Steering Council for Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union, National Unity Government and the aligned democratic forces are coordinating with local actors and community to seek out civilians and deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance on the ground. The NUG stands ready to collaborate with the international community to leave no one behind and scale up their assistance. In conclusion, Mr. President, deliberating aid modality is as critical as mobilizing resources in a conflict like Myanmar. It is crystal clear that the military junta that destroys human lives and disregards humanity cannot be a trusted partner to deliver effective humanitarian assistance. Thank you. Taking this opportunity, I ask the international community to take proactive measures to address the root cause of the conflict and support the people of Myanmar in their efforts to eradicate the military dictatorship and build a federal democratic union. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Myanmar and now give the floor to Australia.

Thank you, President. Sorry for the delay, I was just waiting for the microphone. An effective and robust international humanitarian system underpinned by international humanitarian law is essential to delivering assistance that saves lives and alleviates suffering. In 2026, crises are becoming more protracted, complex and interconnected, while funding struggles to keep pace. Climate change is clearly increasing risks for already vulnerable populations. In recognition of these growing challenges, Australia has increased its humanitarian assistance for 26/27 and will continue to provide flexible core funding for UN humanitarian agencies and international organizations. Colleagues, we must uphold the foundational principles of our global humanitarian system. Today, I'd like to make 5 points. First, we must strengthen protection for humanitarian personnel. Violence against humanitarian workers remains alarmingly prevalent, undermining the delivery of life-saving assistance. Australia is deeply concerned by increasing threats to their safety and security. This is why we, together with Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, launched the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, which has now been endorsed by 113 member states. We encourage all signatories to the declaration to take action to implement their commitments, and we call on those who have not yet endorsed the declaration to do so. For its part, Australia has provided some $15 million Australian dollars to support practical measures that better protect humanitarian personnel. Second, we must ensure safe, rapid, sustained, and unimpeded humanitarian access. Access restrictions, Administrative impediments, criminalization of humanitarian aid, and the politicization of aid delivery are increasingly constraining humanitarian operations. And Australia reiterates our call on all parties to enable full humanitarian access in line with international humanitarian law. Third, we must maintain momentum on humanitarian sector reform. We welcome the constructive discussion and progress on localization, multi-purpose cash assistance, shared services, and supply chains, along with anticipatory action. As humanitarian financing evolves, we encourage a coordinated approach with appropriate balance across pooled, core, and bilateral funding. Fourth, we must keep the people we support at the center of humanitarian efforts. Australia is committed to inclusive humanitarian action, that recognizes and responds to the diverse needs of affected communities. We must enable local and national actors to lead responses and ensure that the needs of affected populations, including women, children, and people with disability, are included in decision-making. And fifth, finally, we must consider the significant humanitarian needs of our region, the Indo-Pacific region. Australia remains committed to supporting the people of Myanmar, including, as we just heard from our colleague from Myanmar, 3.7 million internally displaced people, as well as 1.2 million Rohingya refugees and their host communities in Bangladesh. Across the Pacific, the worsening effects of climate change highlight the need for progress on anticipatory action. Australia is proud to support a global humanitarian system that saves lives every single day. And as the global landscape continues to change, we must work together.

I thank the distinguished representative of Australia and give the floor to the distinguished representative of Côte d'Ivoire.

Thank you, President. President Madrigal, I start with the statement by Sierra Leone on behalf of the African states that are members of ECOSOC. In its national capacity, we would like to add the following: We welcome the holding of this segment, which calls on us to strengthen humanitarian assistance to address humanitarian challenges in a global context marked by increasing number of armed conflict— conflicts, terrorist threats, international organized crime, and natural disasters. President, it is important to recall that at the 2005 World Summit, all heads of state and government affirmed the responsibility of each state to protect its population against genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. The international community, through the U.N., provides its support through cooperation, prevention, and when necessary, through decisive collective action in accordance with the U.N. Charter to protect populations. Despite these constant efforts, Côte d'Ivoire notes with concern that civilians continue to be the hardest-hit victims. Attacks against population, civilian infrastructure, health establishments, and humanitarian workers remain an alarming reality in many of the world's regions. With almost 6.5 million foreigners, or 22% of the total population, my country is a major economic hub in West Africa and is facing considerable challenges when it comes to hosting, integrating, these foreigners, as well as protecting human rights and security and addressing terrorist threats and insecurity in the Sahel region. According to the report of the National Security Council, Côte d'Ivoire currently has 105,000 asylum seekers, including 8,000 refugees. In light of this, the government has taken an integrated approach in the affected regions through strengthening capacity for our defense and security forces when it comes to respecting human rights and IHL, as well as increasing investment in social infrastructure. In addition, the partnership between the OIM and Côte d'Ivoire has allowed us to establish a response plan through providing financial aid to populations, as well as humanitarian aid for displaced populations to meet their immediate needs for aid, as well as to provide them with access to basic services, lasting jobs, and livelihoods. In closing, President, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles of IHL based upon humanity, distinction, precaution, proportionality and prohibition. And we call on the international community to step up its financial and logistical support to states in crisis, as well as to host countries, especially developing countries, in order to transform collective solidarity into tangible action. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Côte d'Ivoire. And I will give the floor to the distinguished representative of Estonia.

President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Estonia aligns itself with the statement of European Union and would like to add the following. I thank USG Fletcher for his statement. The global humanitarian system is facing an unprecedented challenge. Humanitarian needs continue to grow along with the number of conflicts around the world. While important steps have already been taken, they have not been sufficient, and without renewed effort, we risk being left with a system unable to cope with today's challenges. Also, many crises are currently screaming for attention. Today, I'll focus on Ukraine. In the beginning of the year, we once again saw the devastating humanitarian consequences of Russia's war of aggression, as millions of Ukrainians were left in the freezing cold following Russia's targeted attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure. These attacks are a direct assault on the rule-based international order and constitute grave violations of international law. For the fifth year now, we are witnessing in Ukraine— what we are witnessing in Ukraine is brutal and deliberate. Entire cities reduced to rubble, civilians maimed or killed in their homes, families torn apart by forced evacuations, and critical infrastructure like hospitals and power grids systematically destroyed. This is not collateral damage. It is calculated, punitive warfare against a civilian population. We must call out those violating international humanitarian law and hold them to account. Colleagues, the humanitarian reset spearheaded by Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher provides us with a way forward. One and a half years since its inception, we are seeing progress. But much more needs to be done, particularly on the ground. Localization remains a key priority. It has the potential to transform the humanitarian system towards both increased efficiency as well as better accountability to affected populations. Thank you. Close engagement by development actors will allow scarce humanitarian resources to be used where they are most needed. From our experience as a digital society, we highlight that innovation and common digital services and platforms can additionally deliver a substantial efficiency boost and save costs. Thank you. For the Humanitarian Reset to succeed, it is vital that all UN agencies— all UN agencies— are aligned with it and ready to work together, in a spirit of One UN. Likewise, many of the reforms require close alignment with the UN Haiti process. Now is the time for decisive action. The humanitarian reset has our full support. Colleagues, Estonia remains firmly committed to humanitarian aid as a global, principled, and consistent donor. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Estonia and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Venezuela.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Venezuela aligns itself with the statement by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China. Venezuela historically has been firmly committed to institutional humanitarian aid to provide support to nations affected by emergencies caused by natural disasters, armed conflicts, pandemics, floods, and other disastrous situations that do not distinguish between levels of development or the economic condition of countries. We recognize that these phenomena have increased humanitarian needs in different regions of the world. Against this backdrop, we reaffirm that today more than ever humanitarian assistance must be governed strictly by the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. Thank you. Ensuring that this aid reaches those that need it the most without any type of discrimination or any political conditionalities attached to it. For— in order to effectively coordinate humanitarian responses, sustained dialogue and constructive cooperation must be based on a development-focused approach to strengthen and make headway with the drafting and implementation of initiatives. Projects that are backed by national policies and plans, strategically addressing existing challenges. Coordination with states through all phases of humanitarian assistance is the basis for a timely, effective, and people-focused approach. Mr. President, for Venezuela, it's essential to strengthen multilateral coordination mechanisms promoting more inclusive, transparent, and effective international cooperation. It is only through international solidarity, constructive dialogue, and respect for international law that we will be able to bring more effective and lasting responses for people that face themselves in a situation of vulnerability. In this context, the application of unilateral coercive measures, which are illegal under international law and the UN Charter, hinder people's access to essential goods and services. They limit national capacities to address the needs of their populations, and they aggravate humanitarian conditions, which is what the international community is seeking to mitigate. That's why we call for their lifting and for the promotion of solutions that are based instead on dialogue and cooperation. By way of conclusion, we're convinced that joint work dialogue mechanisms with states and the provision of resources in order to address the needs of those most in need, in addition to measures to strengthen coordination between the different bodies while respecting the national realities of the countries affected. That's what's required. Thank you very much.

The President, I thank Venezuela and give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia.

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, my country wishes to express its appreciation for you organizing this such important meeting at a time in which humanitarian needs are intensifying and there's a growing gap between growing needs and the resources available. This underscores how important it is to strengthen international cooperation and to ramp up our joint efforts in order to ensure a more effective and lasting humanitarian response. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is continuing its role in international humanitarian action by sticking to its values and its commitment to the international community. In 2025, we reached second place in the world and first place in the Arab world in terms of donors of humanitarian aid. This is testament to our constant commitment to supporting our response to humanitarian crises and to contribute to strengthening stability and development. Ladies and gentlemen, the international humanitarian system is going through a phase that requires us to strengthen the efficacy of the humanitarian response and its capacity to reach the populations most in need in a context of protracted crises and growing pressure on the resources available. In this regard, for us, it's essential to focus our efforts on enhance humanitarian impact, in particular by strengthening innovative partnerships, by developing financing mechanisms and improving the coordination between the different stakeholders. What's more, it's more and more important to find solutions that enable us to bridge the gap between humanitarian development actions in order to support the communities affected by crises and help them to move from dependence on urgency aid to a trajectory of recovery stability and resilience. Mr. President, in light of the global financing deficit, which is growing, it's necessary to ensure lasting and flexible humanitarian funding and to expand the donor base and to develop future partnerships that include the private sector and the NGO sector, the nonprofit sector, to ensure lasting financing that isn't only based on states. The efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia underscore this integrated approach between humanitarian aid and development, and this through the King Salman IV Aid and Recovery Center. We have reached $8.5 billion that benefit 113 different countries in the world. The Saudi Development Fund has also contributed to financing more than 800 different development projects and programs, and the value is above $22 billion in 100 developing countries. What's more, the support provided by the Kingdom through these funds has reached $18 billion, contributing to a better humanitarian response, supporting sustainable development, and strengthening stability and prosperity opportunities. By way of conclusion, the humanitarian system faces unprecedented challenges. KSA reaffirms its willingness to contribute to international efforts to mitigate human suffering and to strengthen the ability of communities to recover and be resilient. We are convinced that effective humanitarian action is an investment in the security, stability, and development of everybody. Thank you very much.

The President thanks the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia and gives the floor to the distinguished representative of the Philippines.

Thank you, Mr. President. The Philippines aligns with the statement of the G77 and China and the collective call to strengthen humanitarian assistance in response to increasingly complex and intersecting crises brought about by conflicts, climate-related disasters, displacement, health emergencies, and economic shocks. These require not only greater solidarity but a transformation in how humanitarian assistance is financed, coordinated, delivered, and evaluated. The Philippines has learned that humanitarian action must increasingly be anticipatory, risk-informed, and people-centered. We underscore the importance of investing in preparedness, early warning systems, and anticipatory action. The Philippines works with humanitarian and development partners to institutionalize forecast-based approaches within national disaster management systems. A significant milestone in this regard is the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act, which enables authorities to take early action and mobilize resources before a hazard takes place. This legislation reflects a shift from reactive responses to proactive risk risk management, helping save lives and protect livelihoods. The Philippines supports the Humanitarian Reset and its focus on localization, accountability, and decision-making closer to communities. People affected by disasters, climate shocks, and armed conflict, especially women, children, indigenous peoples, displaced populations, and local responders, must be recognized as active partners in shaping humanitarian action, and not merely recipients of assistance. Their knowledge and capacities are essential to have effective and sustainable humanitarian solutions. We reaffirmed the importance of principled humanitarian action and respect for international humanitarian law. Humanitarian assistance must remain guided by the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. Civilians and humanitarian personnel must always be protected, humanitarian access facilitated, and aid delivered free from any politicization and obstruction. We support efforts to strengthen coordination to ensure that humanitarian financing is predictable, flexible, and accessible. particularly for frontline and local actors. Mr. President, as a nation that regularly faces disasters and emergencies, we know what it means to rebuild, recover, and rise again. These experiences have not diminished our commitment to solidarity; they have only strengthened it. Today, the Philippines is both a recipient and contributor to humanitarian action.. We remain a consistent supporter of the UN-SRF and are honored to have served on its advisory group, reflecting our commitment to multilateral cooperation, timely and effective financing, and collective action. We recognize the importance of leveraging complementarities between the SURF and the IFRC's Disaster Response Emergency Fund to strengthen the speed, reach and effectiveness of humanitarian response in diverse contexts. In conclusion, as CERF marks 20 years of its work in 2026, the Philippines reaffirms its commitment to principled humanitarian action, international cooperation, and a more responsive, inclusive, and effective humanitarian system. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Slovenia aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and the following remarks in our national capacity. In a world which promised to leave no one behind, The number of people in need is growing each year. Whether displaced, starving, or persecuted, millions cry out for protection and aid. Yet the gap between the resources required and those actually delivered widens every day. Slovenia reaffirms its commitment to acting for people in need through humanitarian action, humanitarian funding, and humanitarian diplomacy. Diplomacy. First, humanitarian diplomacy to ensure international humanitarian law is respected and humanitarian challenges are tackled together. We often say international law provides a safety net for small countries. Equally, international humanitarian law offers protection for civilians affected by armed conflicts, while the humanitarian norms and principles enshrined in relevant instruments provide a safety net for people most in need universally. In this vein, I would like to underline the role of the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to IHL, within which Slovenia actively contributes to as one of the co-chairs of the workstream on protection of civilian infrastructure, and is engaging in the workstreams on national IHL committees and new technologies. We also launched the Global Alliance to Spare Water from Armed Conflicts. I take this opportunity to thank humanitarian workers for the risk they take. I once again call on all parties in armed conflicts to respect humanitarian operations and to facilitate and ensure safe, rapid and unhindered passage of humanitarian assistance to all those in need. Mr. Chair, acting and speaking in unity galvanizes political will and strengthens our collective commitment to IHL and principled humanitarian action. Slovenia was therefore among the first ones to endorse and sign the Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas and the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. Second, humanitarian funding to enable relief relief reaching every corner of the globe. Slovenia remains a reliable humanitarian partner. In recent years, we have substantially increased our humanitarian contribution, particularly through trusted international organizations operating on the ground. We maintain strong partnerships with the ICRC, WFP, and WHO, and other humanitarian actors, while ensuring that our that our support is effective, transparent, and focused on delivering assistance to those most in need. We also continue to support flexible funding mechanisms that enable rapid responses to emerging humanitarian crises, including food insecurity and conflict-related emergencies. We recognize the growing needs on the ground and the mounting pressure on the humanitarian sector. Slovenia therefore supports ambitious of the humanitarian reset and efforts to strengthen the effectiveness, accountability, and sustainability of humanitarian action, while preserving the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. Third, humanitarian action to serve people in need, including by supporting local actors for local communities. Slovenia's approach to the humanitarian-development-peace nexus merges emergency emergency relief, long-term resilience and peacebuilding in crisis-affected regions. We support several projects by our NGOs and implementing institutions, spanning from mine action and post-conflict rehabilitation in Ukraine and Bosnia-Herzegovina, to the support to Syrian and Palestinian refugees and women in Lebanon.

Colleagues, I thank the distinguished representative of Slovenia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Türkiye.

Thank you, Mr. President. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Spain for chairing this year's ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment. The humanitarian outlook for 2026 presents a sobering picture. Humanitarian needs remain at exceptionally high levels, while available resources continue to face growing pressure. The widening gap between needs and funding requires us not only to mobilize additional resources, but also to ensure that available resources are used in the most effective and impactful manner. In this context, Türkiye welcomes ongoing effort to strengthen the humanitarian system and sports initiative aimed at making humanitarian action more agile, coordinated, and responsive to today's challenges. We support the Humanitarian Reset and the UNHCR initiative as important opportunities to enhance efficiency, accountability, and impact.

Thank you.

Mr. President, for Türkiye, effective humanitarian action rests on three mutually reinforcing pillars: adequate financing, strong coordination, and local ownership. Sustainable results can only be achieved when these elements are pursued together. At a time when humanitarian needs continue to outpace available resources, strengthening local capacities and supporting national and community-based actors are essential for ensuring sustainable humanitarian responses. We believe that more localization should be at the centre of efforts to improve the reach and the impact of humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian action should also contribute to resilience building and recovery. In protracted crisis, we must strengthen linkages between humanitarian assistance, early recovery, and sustainable development in order to reduce vulnerability and foster several reliance. We also believe that burden sharing should be understood in broader terms. Operational capacity, logistics networks, and technical expertise and humanitarian diplomacy can significantly enhance the impact of humanitarian response efforts. Mr. President, effective humanitarian action depends not only on adequate resources and sound policies, but also on the operational environment in which humanitarian actors work. Across many crises, humanitarian access is becoming increasingly constrained, while the risks faced by humanitarian personnel continue to grow. These challenges are particularly evident in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. The scale of civilian suffering, the destruction of the essential infrastructure, and the challenges facing humanitarian operations serve as a stark reminder that humanitarian action ultimately depends on full respect for humanitarian— international humanitarian law. The protection of civilians, safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access, and protection of humanitarian personnel are indispensable conditions for effective humanitarian actions. The increasing numbers of— number of humanitarian workers who have lost their lives in conflict settings is deeply alarming. We should view financing, delivery, and protection as mutually reinforcing priorities. Resources alone cannot deliver results if humanitarian actors cannot safely reach affected populations. As a signatory of the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel initiated by Australia, we invite all member states to join this initiative. Mr. President, in conclusion, Turkey remains committed to working closely with OCHA and all humanitarian partners to advance a humanitarian system that is better financed, better coordinated, and better equipped to respond to the needs of affected populations. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Turkey, and I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nigeria.

Nigeria aligns with the statements delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 7 and China, and Sierra Leone on behalf of the African members of ECOSOC. Mr. President, what we are witnessing today is not simply a humanitarian crisis. It is a crisis of human conscience. Hundreds of millions of people now depend on humanitarian assistance, not as a supplement to their lives, but as the very condition of their survival. That is a reality we cannot afford to normalize. The United Nations humanitarian system remains the backbone of the international response to these emergencies, delivering food to the hungry, medicine to the sick, shelter to the displaced, and protection to the most vulnerable. This is the international community at its best. But we must admit that the system is under pressure. It is not designed to bear the burden alone. Needs are rising, funding is falling, and the gap between the two is widening in ways that will cost lives. Nigeria is also deeply troubled by the conditions under which aid workers are being expected to operate. Across conflict zones, humanitarian personnel are being obstructed and targeted. This is unacceptable. IHL is not optional. We call on the parties to armed conflict, to guarantee the safety of aid workers, and ensure unhindered humanitarian access to civilian populations. Mr. President, Nigeria knows this terrain firsthand. We have lived through the humanitarian consequences of terrorism in the northeast of our country, including mass displacement, flooding, and food insecurity. We understand what it means when a humanitarian convoy cannot get through, We understand what it means when funding runs dry, and we understand the difference that timely, well-resourced international solidarity makes. That is why we urge Member States, IFIs, the private sector, and philanthropic organizations to maintain and strengthen their support for humanitarian operations. Funding must be predictable, adequate, and flexible, not tied to bureaucratic conditions when people are dying. We must also accelerate work across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. Treating symptoms is not enough. We must address the fragility that leaves populations vulnerable in the first place through sustainable development, climate resilience, and genuine investment in national capacity. Nigeria remains committed to work with all parties to build a humanitarian system fit for the scale of the challenge before us. I thank you.

[FOREIGN LANGUAGE] I thank the distinguished representative of Nigeria. We just heard the last statement of the general debate for this session. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, thank you for your active participation throughout the whole of today. We're firmly committed to a more solid and effective system, and we're very much looking forward to continuing this— these important discussions during the rest of the week. We will finish our general debate on Friday at 10:00, to be followed by the closing segment. The Council will reconvene tomorrow at 10:00 AM in this chamber to hold the high-level panel entitled "From Commitments to Practice: Mobilizing Action to Protect civilians, strengthen respect for international humanitarian law, and uphold humanitarian practices. Subsequently, in the afternoon, we will have a high-level panel focused on funding with impact, financing humanitarian action to develop results— rather, deliver results in support of people in need. I also wish to encourage delegations to take advantage of the compelling side events taking place during the lunch hour each day and on Friday. Tomorrow's side event is on Delivering on International Humanitarian Law, Mobilizing Action to Protect Healthcare in Conflict. The meeting is adjourned.