STATEMENT BY
MR. MOHAMMAD AL HAFIZ MOHD NADZIR
DELEGATE
PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AGENDA ITEM 71(a):
“STRENGTHENING OF THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AND DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE OF THE UNITED NATIONS”
16 DECEMBER 2019, NEW YORK
Mr. President,
1. Malaysia aligns itself with the statement delivered by Brunei Darussalam on behalf of ASEAN.
2. Allow me at this outset to thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report, which highlights the new challenges posed by increasing global security environment on humanitarian and disaster relief assistance efforts. We noted with great concern over the security challenges faced by aid workers including by personnel of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), as outlined in the same report. In this regard, Malaysia calls on all relevant parties to make every effort to safeguard the safety and security of humanitarian personnel, by ensuring full and effective implementation of the relevant principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law.
Mr. President,
3. The scale and intensity of human suffering inflicted by poverty, conflict and natural disasters continue to gravely impact the vulnerable communities. Malaysia will continue to extend our assistance to communities and countries in need, within our capacity. Our participation in the humanitarian and disaster relief assistance, both monetary and in-kind contribution, is based on a three-pronged approach, namely:
3.1 Government-to-government; either through bilateral assistance or multilateral cooperation;
3.2 Involvement through non-governmental organisations (NGOs); and
3.3 People-to-people participation.
4. Malaysia will remain supportive of efforts by the UN towards improving the international humanitarian assistance system and humanitarian response capacity. We believe that a timely, predictable, coordinated, and accountable response to humanitarian needs is essential in saving lives and alleviating suffering. Malaysia will endeavour to enhance its cooperation with relevant stakeholders including by empowering aid workers with appropriate skills and resources to enable them to participate comprehensively in global humanitarian missions.
5. We would like to commend the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and other UN relevant agencies - for their commendable work in effectively delivering humanitarian relief around the world. In November this year, Malaysia pledged additional financial contribution to OCHA for the purpose of humanitarian relief in several African countries and Iraq.
6. Malaysia also houses one of the six UN Humanitarian Response Depots (UNHRD), which provides storage, logistics support, and services to our humanitarian partners. The Malaysian Government contributes USD 1 million annually in the form of a grant to cover the operating cost of the centre. We encourage the utilisation of the UNHRD in Malaysia for swift delivery of humanitarian aid in emergency situations, particularly for crises that occur in the region.
7. In closing, Malaysia would like to reiterate its call for continued coordination and collaboration between UN mechanisms and States in ensuring effective delivery of humanitarian assistance to the affected areas. We believe that such collaboration should be guided by the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and non-politicisation by all parties involved.
I thank you.
