reintegration and rehabilitation support to build their livelihoods and
contribute to long-term development.
Social reconstruction should enable the population to coexist peacefully
through intra- and inter-group forms of reconciliation. Mechanisms to help
resolve disputes non-violently and address the legacy of past abuses
should be activated, especially through development of community
institutions that bind society across divisions.
I am in accord with the requirement that humanitarian assistance shall be
delivered in a manner and with the sole purpose of fostering responsibility and
sustainability in order to mitigate the effects of the crises, in such a way that
people quickly readjust to their old ways of living after stability is achieved.
I find the under-mentioned to be fundamental information that has to be stressed
to the cooperating partners before crises:
It is the primary role and responsibility of the state to provide timely
assistance and protection to affected persons as provided for in the
Humanitarian Charter, once a crisis is experienced. Extenuating cases
like the Haiti earthquake or floods in Mozambique can be dealt with
appropriately, whilst cases like famine in Zimbabwe and floods in Zambia,
where the central government-allotted monies never reached the affected
persons should have corrective measures taken when all is addressed.
The above is said especially in light of the fact that the affected population
usually does not have sufficient capacity to respond – particularly in the
immediate aftermath / early response to the crisis. Therefore, state or
controlling authorities should not engage in discrimination of certain
groups of people and/or affected areas.
It is important that the host government is made to understand that it has
the responsibility to determine the capacity and intentions towards all
members of the affected population about the scale and type of humanitarian response and what in addition is required.
The HN government should overcome all forms of exploitation and
corruption so that all affected people are afforded access to assistance
without discrimination. Aid can negatively affect the wider population and
amplify unequal power relations between different groups, including men
and women. Valuable aid resources can increase exploitation and abuse
and lead to competition, misuse or misappropriation of aid.
The requirement for timely information to the affected population on how
to access aid facilitates sanity in the whole operation. The assurance that
people will have access to basic services, security, and respect for human
rights gives them a foundation/hope for life with dignity. Therefore, the
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