Al-Maatouq calls for urgent solutions to humanitarian crises in region

UN Secretary-General's Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs Abdullah Al-Maatouq has called the international community and organizations to work on urgent solutions to the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the region.
Al-Maatouq, also Amiri Diwan Advisor, made the call on Thursday at the end of a three-day preparatory meeting in Jordan for the World Humanitarian Summit due in Istanbul in 2016.
He noted that Kuwait had hosted the first and second conferences for Syria donors over the past two years in cooperation with the UN, upon a call by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The country is hosting a third one on 31 March.
In addition, Kuwait hosts regular quarterly meetings for the major Syria donors to discuss financing strategies and spending, seeking to enhance effectiveness and avoid duality, the UN Envoy said.
Al-Maatouq thanked Jordan hosting Syrian refugees over four years, noting that about 12.2 million people, almost half the Syrian people, were internally displaces or had to leave their country for their lives.
The region is suffering from various humanitarian crises, due to catastrophes or armed conflicts, Al-Maatouq said, referring to a deep concern over these conditions.
Referring to the 2016 Istanbul summit, based on an initiative by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, he said it will offer a good chance to discuss means to improve humanitarian performance. It will also help Arab and Muslim organizations take part with international ones in making relevant decisions and formulating humanitarian charters.
He said the Summit must seek sustainable solutions to face repercussions of humanitarian crises, building a more comprehensive and variable system for a more effective philanthropic work.