His Excellency President Adama had attended the African Union Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference, held May 27-28th in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, where he to fellow African leaders for investment in vital sectors like agriculture in order to improve the continent’s humanitarian situation.
He expressed good impression about what he called a “collective undertaking to examine and re-define the continental initiatives for improving our humanitarian situation”. This, he said is vital for realising the ‘Africa We Want’, and emphasised the need to keep up the momentum to implement sustainable recovery programmes.
President Barrow reminded that food insecurity continues to impact negatively on the continent’s development.
“Sustainable investment in agriculture, as a solution, is a valid proposal to adopt, with the funding gaps addressed through collaborative partnerships,” he admonished.
On the issue of health, Barrow posited that the health systems of Member Countries have been subjected to immense pressure due to the prevailing pandemic.
This, he observed is worsened by human rights violations, gender-based violence, and violence against women and children.
In this respect, the Gambian leader suggested strengthening the continent’s legal instruments and operational protocols to effectively protect internally displaced persons, refugees, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable groups.
“Our collective drive to improve this urgent humanitarian situation should optimise the
demographic dividend of the continent. The youths and women are essential stakeholders for improving humanitarian situations, particularly through peace, security, and socio-economic transformation and development programmes”.
He also called for the process of operationalising the African Humanitarian Agency to be expedited in order “to establish an institutional framework that provides timely humanitarian interventions to distressed societies”.
On climate change, the President noted the resulting displacements of persons which he indicated, has continued to have adverse effects on domestic capacities and ecosystems to improve the humanitarian situation. To address this, President Barrow expressed the need for sustainable financing of climate change mitigation efforts.
He told the forum that his government has embarked on a process of formulating a green-focused development plan and long-term vision.
“As we work towards mitigating our humanitarian challenges, it is necessary to close the gap between humanitarian needs, intervention programmes, and funding,” he stated.
His Excellency Barrow put emphasis on solutions to acquiring adequate funding for humanitarian action through closer partnerships among national, regional, continental, and global stakeholders.