Day two @the Hub
By Engy Farag, Ghalia Bouran, Noor Bukhammas
The day was packed with events including the official opening of the Hub, but it was the Senegalese singer and Sahel advocate, Oumy Gueye, aka OMG, who left a deep impression with her uplifting performance.
Opening of the Hub: The Hub was officially opened by Sultan Mohammad Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister for International Development Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ms. Joyce Msuya, Assistant-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
Mr. Al Shamsi said on the third day of the COP, the Government will host the first ever - Peace, Relief and Health Day. He noted in his remarks, that, “emergency response is important but not enough, there is a need to do much more when it comes to mitigation and preparedness. When we look around, we see conflicts such as in Gaza, Sudan but also countries affected by climate change such as Libya, Turkey and others.”
Ms. Msyua said the Hub was consistent with “OCHA’s aspiration to provide a balanced safe space for humanitarians to share, listen and learn. This is a place for the entire humanitarian village. It is a place designed to elevate the voices of the people most impacted by climate crisis and demonstrate responses, innovations and solutions on the ground.”
UNHCR’s Goodwill Ambassador Emi Mahmoud, said the Hub was “a space to build a collation and collective responsibility and approach things with a humanitarian mindset no matter what.”
Dr. Dina Assaf, United Nations Resident Coordinator for UAE also addressed the opening.
The UAE was thanked for their support with the establishment of the Hub.
The opening was followed by performances by OMG and a poetry rendition by Mahmoud.
Climate conversations; Organizers: UNHCR & Google: Participants highlighted that the climate crisis was a big driver of displacement in vulnerable countries. Dominique Hyde, UNHCR’s Director of External Relations pointed out that the impact on women and girls especially within displaced community is heightened in these situations and we need to find sustainable solutions. Nhial Deng, a UNHCR youth activist from South Sudan said that refugees were being displaced from camps because of the climate crisis. OMG shared that she came from a fishing community and the climate crisis, which has affected catches had made it harder for her people to earn a living, forcing the youth to risk their lives to travel by sea to Europe in search of better opportunities. UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Mahmoud said experts who were trying to come up with solutions need to be equipped with better resources.
Food security and promotion of the Great Green Wall value chains and prospects for local community, populations and producers: Organizer: Great Green Wall of Africa: This was a wide-ranging discussion with panellists highlighting the need for capturing methane to installing smart grids and investment in sensory and nano technology to improve food security and value chains.