UN chief highlights need to rev up response to humanitarian crises in Africa

Deputy UN secretary-general Jan Eliasson on Tuesday stressed that the international community must address chronic humanitarian needs and crises in Africa if the continent is to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) , a set of eight anti-poverty targets, before their 2015 deadline for fulfillment. "Africa is particularly vulnerable to the threat posed by climate change," he said. "Droughts, floods and unpredictable weather are displacing populations, devastating areas and generating competition for scarce resources that can even lead to conflict." The statement came as Eliasson was speaking at a news briefing held at UN Headquarters in New York on the work of the African Regional Economic Communities. "These crises affect tens of millions of people every year," he said. "The poor and the most vulnerable, including women, children, and the elderly are hit hardest. Individuals are devastated and whole economies can lose hard-won progress." Eliasson underlined that to reach the MDGs and preserve the gains made so far, chronic crises need to be addressed by building resilience in African countries and reducing the population's vulnerability. The year 2015 is the deadline for achieving the MDGs, agreed on by world leaders at a UN summit in 2000, setting specific goals on poverty alleviation, education, gender equality, child and maternal health, environmental stability, HIV/AIDS reduction, and a global partnership for development. "Countries have primary responsibility to respond to humanitarian crises and disasters, but they need international solidarity," he said. "When we work together, we can help all States cope with the threat of disasters." Eliasson said he was particularly interested in boosting the establishment of early warning and early response systems in regions, countries and communities, as they have an enormous potential to save lives.