Update Report on the role of WFP in the framework of collective humanitarian action.
Rome, July 1, 2020
Thank you Mr. President:
We appreciate the report and acknowledge WFP's work in difficult contexts, where sometimes only WFP staff comes to provide humanitarian assistance.
Cuba fully understands the value of this effort by WFP, since for decades in the field of public health, more than 400,000 Cuban doctors, health technicians and nurses have provided emergency aid in dozens of countries on all continents, in conflict situations, natural disasters or epidemics, as we currently do in the confrontation with COVID19. We know well the challenge of reaching remote places where not many want to be facing those risks.
Cuba provides and will continue to provide humanitarian support in close coordination with the authorities of the countries concerned. We appreciate that in some settings this cooperation has been positively articulated with that of organizations and programs of the United Nations system. Fostering cooperation in the humanitarian field is a priority for my country.
We consider it important that WFP continue to consolidate humanitarian action in conjunction with other funds and programs, in particular with the Food and agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other stakeholders, to avoid the practice of starvation such as method of war.
We recall the 1996 Rome Declaration: “Food should not be used as an instrument of political and economic pressure. We reaffirm the importance of international cooperation and solidarity, as well as the need to refrain from applying unilateral measures that are not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations and jeopardize food security.”
Using food as a resource of political pressure or with hegemonic interests is contrary to international law and the right to food.
Member states and the UN are to ensure that humanitarian assistance is provided in accordance with the principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality, respecting intergovernmental legal instruments, especially those of the UN General Assembly.
Cuba recognizes the full validity of the guiding principles of humanitarian assistance endorsed in General Assembly resolution 46/182. WFP must continue to be a promoter of the fulfillment of the principles and purposes of the assistance on the ground, together with other agencies of the United Nations system, to face with integrity the challenges posed by humanitarian emergencies
We recommend reviewing some concepts such as fragile states. In reality, fragility in most cases is caused by external factors, which make people, socio-economic contexts and ecosystems vulnerable.
Tangible progress will not be achieved if the root causes behind these situations are not eliminated, particularly underdevelopment, poverty, the unjust and unsustainable international economic order, inequalities in the distribution of wealth and the forced marginalization of millions of people.
In the same way, repressive measures and economic, commercial and financial blockades against other States, which also cause food difficulties, due to political differences or hegemonic desires that ignore the sovereignty of States, should be removed as acts against humanity.
WFP must continue to strengthen international cooperation programs and the transfer of resources, technologies and knowledge to developing countries, in order to consolidate their national capacities in the face of humanitarian emergencies.
We welcome WFP's invigoration of the nexus between humanitarian action, development assistance and peacebuilding, recognizing the close interdependence of peace and development.
We consider as strategic that WFP continue to strengthen training in disaster preparedness, early warning and action. It would be advisable to record in a document the positive experiences of WFP's work on the ground in this area. We recall that in the face of the Ebola epidemic where WFP did a very good job.
We call to multiply good practices.
Thank you very much.
