Some of the most pressing issues and challenges that we face in this area stem from the increasingly interconnected nature of the humanitarian, political and military spheres of action in conflict situations on the eve of the new millennium.
Many humanitarian emergencies are a result of conflict or war.
Although humanitarian agencies have an important role in addressing the humanitarian consequences of conflicts, they have, by virtue of their role, limited influence on the outcome of such conflicts. Restoring and sustaining a peaceful and secure environment needs the cooperation of a wide range of actors, and requires, in particular, the commitment of political actors to address crises even in areas with little or no strategic or economic interest to them, sometimes with the support of military force. OCHA also assists in resource mobilization by launching inter-agency appeals to address humanitarian needs in countries affected by humanitarian crises. Aside from coordination, we also address the common policy concerns of the humanitarian community, the most pressing of which is the protection of civilians in armed conflict. As I have just described, OCHA s work focuses on coordinating the provision of relief and protection to individuals or groups whose lives have been turned upside down by complex humanitarian emergencies.