New York, June 19, 2018.In her statement at the general debate of the Humanitarian Affairs Segment of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo, took the opportunity to review the important advances in Cuba in terms of early warning, management and recovery in emergency situations. This strong preparedness system to face these events, which has been recognized in the Secretary General's Report, facilitated the protection of the lives of almost 2 million people who were affected by the most recent hurricanes that hit the Caribbean region; she assured.
The Cuban diplomat also referred to the cooperation actions carried out by Cuba in this field, highlighting that thousands of Cuban collaborators have contributed to overcome emergency situations caused by natural disasters or epidemics in several countries of Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.
She also stressed that one of the greatest challenges facing international assistance activities in emergency situations is to avoid using them to justify transgression of inalienable principles of international law. In this regard, she reaffirmed that responses to humanitarian emergencies should start with the express recognition of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of States, as the only way to prevent small countries with limited resources from being subjected to the interested will of the rich and powerful nations.
Rodríguez Camejo called for strengthening international cooperation and the transfer of technology and knowledge to developing countries, in order to complete their national capabilities in the face of humanitarian emergencies, without conditions.
She also reaffirmed Cuba's commitment to international actions aimed at strengthening the capacity of the United Nations to face and overcome the challenges imposed by humanitarian emergencies, based on respect for the principles enshrined in the UN Charter.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations