The most important investment we can make in humanity

Remarks by Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, at the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview 2023

Riyadh, 1 December

The idea that we have entered an age of permanent crisis, that humanity is lurching from one global disaster to another without drawing breath, is rapidly gaining ground.

Indeed, the word “perma-crisis” was named 2022’s English word of the year.

And it’s not hard to see why.

A global pandemic, an escalating climate crisis, a war in Europe, a global cost of living crisis, eye-watering levels of poverty.

We are in the middle of the largest global food crisis in modern history, a crisis driven by conflict, climactic shock and the looming threat of global recession.

As I speak, close to 1 million people are in famine-like conditions.

More people have been forced from their homes than at any time since the end of the Second World War.

And today’s wars are more intense and longer lasting than ever.

In this region alone, the war in Syria will have soon dragged on for 12 years. The conflict in Yemen nine.

Women and children are bearing the brunt of these forever wars as hospitals, homes and schools are turned into death traps by warring sides who violate the rules of war every single day.

Never have so many people needed aid just to survive – six times more than a decade ago.

Given these giant, interconnected crises, it is unsurprising that the word “perma-crisis” is increasingly being used to describe the times in which we live.

It is also unsurprising that the world’s humanitarian system is now at breaking point, for every year, as needs rise to record levels, the funding gap grows.

It is a deep sadness that, as of today, our 2022 appeal is less than half funded.

And yet, despite this huge shortfall, we’ve provided assistance to 157 million people.

Thanks to the grit and determination of our UN and NGO partners, frontline organizations and local communities, we’ve reached displaced people in 46 countries. And we’ve provided emergency healthcare to more than 40 million people in the first half of the year alone.

This is what we can do with less than half of what we need. This is what we can do despite the threat to aid workers, and despite the access challenges thrown up by war, violence and political chaos.

But with proper funding, we could have more than doubled our impact, reaching millions more men, women and children whose lives have been devasted by disaster.

Today, we are appealing for $51.5 billion to help 230 million people in 69 countries.

This is a huge figure - more than we’ve ever asked for.

But unless we secure this finance, the scale of human suffering will continue to rocket. Needs will continue to rise. The world’s mega-crises will continue to outpace our ability to respond. And the hopes of millions of people who simply want a chance to survive and adapt, a chance to see their communities transformed in response to disaster, will continue to be dashed.

But it’s not just about how much money we raise – it’s also about what we do with this money.

And that’s where I’m filled with hope.

Over the past decade or so, the humanitarian system has undergone profound change.

This transformation is now bearing real fruit. We’re now better placed than ever to prevent and alleviate human suffering, and to protect life and health in a way that grants people the safety and dignity they need to thrive.

Firstly, the humanitarian system has grown adept at anticipating crisis and risk, learning from communities themselves even as it helps them prepare for and respond to disaster before it strikes. This hasn’t just protected lives – it has also reduced the financial cost of humanitarian action.

Secondly, we’re finding innovative ways to build longer term resilience even while we meet immediate, lifesaving needs.
Thirdly, international aid now strengthens rather than replaces national and local organizations. Eighty per cent of our humanitarian response teams are now guided by leaders from national and local organizations. Alongside our ability to deliver fast, effective funds to local organizations in the world’s most fragile places, this means that our humanitarian response is now informed by the real needs of people on the frontlines of the world’s disasters.

These systemic changes to the way the humanitarian system operates mean that we’re no longer just delivering aid – we’re working to end the need for it.
That’s why the $51.5 billion we’re asking for today isn’t just a band-aid for the world’s growing crises – it’s the most important investment we can make in humanity.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This is our SOS call for help.

Help for the millions of men, women and children whose lives have been shattered by hunger, conflict, disease, and poverty.

Help which will allow committed frontline workers to provide millions with food, education, vaccines, protection, and shelter.

Help which can only come from countries, corporates and individuals who are fortunate enough to be living in peace, safety and prosperity.

If this SOS is heard, then we will have the power not just to alleviate suffering in the short-term but to ensure millions of the world’s most vulnerable people can secure the right to a life of lasting dignity, away from a world of permanent crisis and towards a world of permanent prosperity.

I can think of no greater investment.

THANK YOU.