“We strongly condemn the imposition of UCMs by certain countries that use them as political leverage in bilateral relations,” said Iran’s Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Zahra Elshadi. said in a statement at the General Assembly meeting. Conference on Coordination of United Nations Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Assistance, including Special Economic Assistance, held in New York on 6 December.
Below is the text of her speech.
In the name of the merciful, merciful God.
president,
Let me first express my delegation’s gratitude to the coordinators and facilitators of the resolutions under this agenda item for their leadership and efforts towards achieving consensus among Member States. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his report.
president,
The international community continues to face new and evolving challenges in its efforts to address these emergencies. As the number of people suffering from the effects of natural disasters, armed conflicts, foreign occupation, the COVID-19 pandemic, unilateral enforcement measures, blockades and starvation as weapons increases, the impact of these disasters , severely undermines our ability to meet these challenges and hinders the development of the affected countries. In our region, the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Syria, Palestine and Yemen directly and indirectly causes enormous amounts of suffering. Moreover, in our region, a large influx of displaced Afghans into neighboring countries and beyond is seriously exacerbating this tragedy.
president,
We strongly believe that addressing the root causes of humanitarian crises and emergencies and increasing investment in prevention is the only sustainable solution to this global phenomenon.
In our view, all the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, should be adhered to by all States and humanitarian organizations. As States have a primary role and responsibility in responding to humanitarian emergencies, States must be recognized for their responsibility and leadership in coordinating humanitarian assistance to ensure its effective delivery. Hmm. Similarly, humanitarian crises and emergencies, especially those inadvertently created under specific hidden political agendas, must not lead to foreign intervention, including on the pretext of responsibility to protect. .
president,
By upholding its purely humanitarian nature, the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes the importance of its humanitarian assistance operations, including the United Nations Humanitarian Response System. Legitimate concerns about humanitarian deviations and inhumane acts masquerading as humanitarian aid must be addressed immediately through thorough and independent investigations.
We believe that resources need to be mobilized through a proactive funding approach in the United Nations budget system to address humanitarian situations sustainably. In this regard, those who have been involved in protracted wars and occupations, or who have played a key contributor role by providing advanced weaponry, are more likely to contribute to funding the United Nations humanitarian response. should bear the burden of This includes companies that are historically responsible for greenhouse gas emissions that lead to rapid climate change and worsening disasters.
We also strongly condemn the situation in which the humanitarian needs of people in dire deprivation are held hostage by political or military means, including imposing blockades to starve civilians to death.Furthermore, the United Nations must ensure that all humanitarian aid should be distributed to all those in need without discrimination and without aid provider intervention.
president,
The Islamic Republic of Iran views unilateral coercive measures (UCM) as one of the major obstacles to international efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, as well as a major cause of humanitarian crises worldwide. We strongly condemn the imposition of UCMs by certain countries that use them as political leverage in bilateral relations. While our region is prone to various disasters such as earthquakes, droughts, dust storms and floods, the Islamic Republic of Iran has suffered tremendously from the extra weight of illegal and illegal. receive unilateral sanctions.
president,
There are many humanitarian crises around the world that require a quick response. With winter approaching and the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan continuing to deteriorate for the Afghan people, especially women, girls and children, the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance and the release of Afghan frozen assets are essential for economic recovery and savings. Never be political or conditional. Therefore, every effort must be made to ensure unhindered access to humanitarian aid and vaccines for countries hosting Afghan refugees and citizens, especially their neighbors.
president,
In addition to the above challenges, our region, West Asia, is suffering from various environmental challenges such as climate change, desertification, dust storms, water scarcity and biodiversity loss. Addressing these challenges requires strong regional and global cooperation. To address these challenges, the Islamic Republic of Iran, together with UN-affiliated agencies, is pleased to announce that it will host an international conference on sandstorms and combating them in 2023.
Finally, Mr. President, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which includes seven goals and four priorities, under the auspices of the United Nations, practical measures to promote regional cooperation, particularly among neighboring countries, in the use of tools. is expected to be taken. We had to face disasters like sandstorms and haze. We also welcome cooperation among relevant UN agencies on disaster-related issues, including resilience prevention, risk reduction, recovery and reconstruction.
thank you very much
