Mr. Chairman,
Cuba reaffirms the full validity of the guiding principles of humanitarian assistance set out in General Assembly resolution 46/182. Today, we also have other instruments that establish guidelines, principles and actions to address the challenges posed by humanitarian emergencies.
However, several agencies of the UN system have already reiterated their warnings about the inability to achieve, within the agreed time frame, some of the targets that are part of the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Addis Ababa Agenda on financing for development is simply ignored in many of the critical areas for most needy countries.
Likewise, if we do not display real political will, the efforts that we Member States are making to achieve effective reform of the United Nations system to truly complement the Organization's activities in the area of coordination in humanitarian emergencies will be of little use.
Nor will tangible progress be made if the root causes of these situations, particularly underdevelopment, poverty, the unjust and unsustainable international economic order, unequal wealth distribution and the forced marginalization of millions of people, are not eliminated.
Mr. Chairman,
In Cuba, we have made considerable progress in early warning, emergency management and recovery. As the Secretary-General's report acknowledges, Cuba has a robust preparedness system for these events, which has secured the lives of nearly 2 million people who were affected by the most recent hurricanes that ravaged the Caribbean region.
Cuban humanitarian activities also extend to international cooperation activities. In close coordination with the authorities of the countries concerned, thousands of Cuban aid workers have helped to overcome emergency situations caused by natural disasters or epidemics in several Latin American, Caribbean, African and Asian countries.
Mr. Chairman,
One of the greatest challenges facing international aid activities in emergency situations is to prevent them from serving as a justification to transgress the inalienable principles of international law. This includes violations of these norms by States that promote conflicts within other sovereign States for political purposes or to appropriate or control natural resources, as well as to unleash wars of aggression.
Any development toward strengthening the capacity of the United Nations to respond to humanitarian emergencies must be based on the express recognition of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of States. It is the only way to prevent small countries with limited resources from being subjected to the self-serving goals of wealthy and powerful nations.
In like manner, strengthened international cooperation and transfer of technology and knowledge to developing countries is urgently needed in order to complement their national capabilities in humanitarian emergencies, without conditions and avoiding to undermine their development programmes and resources.
Mr. Chairman, I conclude my statement by reaffirming Cuba's commitment to the international efforts aimed at strengthening the capacity of the United Nations to face and overcome the challenges posed by humanitarian emergencies, on the basis of respect for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
Thank you very much.