Emphasizing the UN Humanitarian Role in a Seminar and Exhibition at the BA
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Alexandria—
The BA held on Tuesday, 31 July 2007, a seminar entitled "Humanitarian Role of the United Nations: Challenges and Opportunities", chaired by Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the BA, in the presence of representatives of different UN institutions and organizations.
Dr. Ismail Serageldin, reviewed in his opening speech the humanitarian role carried out by the UN organizations in different countries of the world, especially those suffering from wars, conflicts, natural disasters, and poverty.
Dr. Ismail Serageldin stated that several problems have been alleviated on the international arena, compared to the past, such as the problem of poverty. Obstacles are still there, but no one can deny the achievements of the UN, which really gives hope of a better tomorrow to humanity.
Dr. Serageldin added that there is no alternative to multi- lateral cooperation and solutions based on justice, respect of the other, human rights, away from the concept of power.
Khaled Mansour, Head of Media Unit, Regional Office of the UN World Food Program in Cairo, stated that many controversies are raised on humanitarian aids by the UN, some say it reflects political interests. Mansour called for keeping away from the theory of "conspiracy".
Mansour said that the World Food Program, which started temporarily in 1963 and is now almost permanent, is responsible for helping the victims of natural disasters, poverty, conflicts, and wars in more than 80 countries. He added that the world should understand the real capacity of food problem, since 850 million of the world population suffer from hunger, of whom 1000 persons die every hour, which is more than those who die of Aids or Malaria.
Maher Nasser, UN Information Center in Cairo, stated that the role played by the UN supersedes political dimensions, referring to what Kofi Anan, Former UN Secretary General, has said summing up the duties of the UN in three domains, namely: international security and peace keeping, safeguarding human rights, and finally social and economic roles.
Both Hanan Soliman, Deputy Representative, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and Khaled Finsa, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), spoke on the importance of individuals' and governments roles in supporting the humanitarian role played by the UN and its affiliated organizations, especially in countries suffering from poverty and disputes. They also reviewed the projects carried out by the UNICEF and the UNHCR in Middle East countries, such as Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, and others.
Following the seminar, Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the BA, Mahmoud Kabiel, UN Goodwill Ambassador, along with representatives of UN organizations inaugurated a photo exhibition entitled "UN Humanitarian Projects in the Middle East” to raise the awareness on the role of different UN entities.