Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) on Thursday convened humanitarian leaders, policymakers, and aid organisations in Abu Dhabi for the "Humanitarian Partnerships Forum", an event aimed at strengthening global cooperation in response to rising humanitarian needs.
Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Women's Union, Emirates University, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the forum sought to align strategies, enhance coordination, and explore innovations that could improve the effectiveness of humanitarian interventions.
Discussions took place against a backdrop of increasing humanitarian demands, with nearly 300 million people worldwide requiring assistance due to conflict, economic instability, and climate-related disasters. With crises in Syria, Afghanistan, and Venezuela intensifying and extreme weather events displacing millions, experts underscored the urgency of coordinated, technology-driven approaches that move beyond conventional response mechanisms.
A panel titled "Coordination of Humanitarian Action and Innovation in Emergencies: Moving Beyond Business As Usual" examined the evolving landscape of humanitarian response. Participants emphasised the importance of financial flexibility, with Valentina Bernasconi, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation, stressing that adaptable funding mechanisms are critical in emergencies.
"It is essential to have financial support that can respond immediately to shifting needs. At the ICRC, we work on this not only as an organisation but as part of a movement that operates side by side, sometimes according to our mandates, sometimes in direct collaboration," she said.
While volunteerism remains at the heart of humanitarian work, maintaining neutrality and impartiality is becoming increasingly complex, she added.
"We rely a lot on volunteerism and on the support of volunteers as well, so working with respect for humanitarian principles like impartiality and neutrality is becoming more and more difficult. And I think we are very grateful to countries like the UAE because they understand the need to support a strong humanitarian response that is also based on these principles," Bernasconi said.
The forum also examined economic resilience as a fundamental factor in humanitarian planning. Humaid Al Shamsi, Advisor for the Development and International Cooperation Sector, discussed the importance of understanding the economy and the resources of any country, stressing that simply providing what is needed is not enough.
"It is necessary to look at the current situation, whether the economic state of the country or the ability of people to afford basic goods," he said.
Al Shamsi stressed that humanitarian interventions cannot be isolated from the economic realities of affected regions.
"And the importance of learning from local and international markets and looking at opportunities even from competitors. Finally, in the face of natural disasters, cooperation with neighbouring countries and leveraging local and foreign resources is key to finding solutions," he added.
Abdulaziz Al Zaidi, Acting Projects & Programmes Division Manager at the Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, echoed this sentiment, noting that technology has enabled a more proactive approach to long-term humanitarian planning.
"We are working towards building a stable economy, and many organisations are sharing valuable lessons on how to achieve this," he said.
"The real lesson isn't just about learning from past experiences but about applying technology effectively to address humanitarian needs. From a broader movement perspective, coordination has proven to be one of the most valuable aspects of humanitarian response," he added.
Beyond emergency coordination, the forum explored broader humanitarian priorities, including food security in crisis zones and the role of youth in shaping humanitarian efforts.
Participants stressed that the complexity of modern humanitarian challenges requires a fundamental shift in approach - one that prioritises long-term coordination, embraces innovation, and ensures that responses are tailored to the economic and social realities of affected populations.
