Addis Ababa(Ethiopia), November 18, 2015 (SPS) - The African Union experts meeting elected the Sahrawi Republic to take over the presidency of the Specialized Technical Committee for Migration and Refugees and internally displaced persons, during its meeting convened under the theme: Towards Humanitarian Effectiveness in Africa, in light of a rapidly changing humanitarian landscape, to comprehensively respond to humanitarian crisesin the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
The overall objective of the first session of the STC on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons is to consider and adopt its Rules of Procedure, consider and adopt Common African Position on Humanitarian effectiveness to submitted to the World Humanitarian Summit, due to hold in Istanbul, Turkey in May 2016 and the African Humanitarian Policy Framework and the Disaster Management Guidelines.. In addition, the second theme: World Humanitarian Summit: One Africa, One Voice, One Message guided the formulation of the Common African Position on Humanitarian Effectiveness to be submitted to the world Summit.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, H.E. Dr. Aisha Laraba Abdullahi, the Commissioner for Political Affairs (AUC), underscored the need for Member States to focus their deliberations around the development of an appropriate policy framework fit for the current humanitarian problems and future challenges. In addition, the Commissioner reiterated the urgent response and mitigation to crises remains with worrying consequence for the continent. The resulting humanitarian phenomenon of forced displacement as a consequence of both conflict and natural as well as human induced disasters continue to be further deepened by the lack of capacity at all levels on the continent.
From 16 to 20 November the STC will examine the common African position on Humanitarian effectiveness pertaining to Migration, Refugees and internally displaced persons in Africa accordingly the outcome of the meeting will be submitted to the 26th Ordinary Session of the Union to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2016.
Sahrawi delegation head by SADR permanent representative to AU Mr. Lamine Baali attended the meeting, it should be mentioned.(SPS)
125/090/TRA