Diplomacy by Other Means: Humanitarianism in a Time of Crisis

Global Challenges to Multilateralism

• 💡 The multilateral system is under increasing attack, with a shift towards legitimizing force over cooperation, contrary to the UN Charter.
• ⚠️ Domestic crises, including a loss of trust in institutions, directly impact countries' willingness for international engagement.
• ⚡ This disengagement exacerbates global challenges like climate change, trade, security, and forced displacement, weakening conflict resolution efforts.

Unprecedented Forced Displacement

• 📈 The world faces a record high of 123 million forcibly displaced people, primarily due to conflicts waged with disregard for international humanitarian law and targeting civilians.
• 🔑 International cooperation is essential to address refugee issues, but it is severely weakened, making it difficult to implement solutions like the Global Compact on Refugees.
• 🌍 Conflicts in regions like Ukraine, Sudan, DRC, the Middle East, Myanmar, and Haiti are driving massive displacement.

Severe Financial Crisis in Humanitarian Aid

• 📉 Humanitarian aid faces a deep financial crisis, with significant cuts in international assistance, notably from the US, which previously contributed 40% of UNHCR's funds.
• ❌ Many donors are cutting foreign assistance to boost defense spending, a decision deemed "myopic" and a "strategic mistake" that undermines long-term security.
• 💔 These cuts are devastating key sectors such as food security, health, education, and gender-based violence programs, leading to a focus on "doing less with less."

Impact and Strategic Implications

• 🚨 The lack of funding for emergencies, like the Sudan crisis, risks grave destabilization in neighboring regions and increased population movements towards Europe.
• 🤝 Aid acts as a stabilizing factor, providing opportunities and preventing further displacement, making it a crucial investment in security.
• 🌐 Multilateralism also serves to maintain international relations and open channels for humanitarian work in politically isolated regions, as demonstrated by visits to Afghanistan and Iran.

Addressing Migration and Refugee Issues

• ✅ UNHCR supports the EU Migration Pact as a pragmatic compromise to improve burden-sharing and border procedures, provided it is well-applied and respects human rights.
• 🚪 Border controls alone are insufficient; offering opportunities along migration routes and broader, regulated migration channels are vital to manage flows and distinguish between asylum seekers and economic migrants.
• 🇸🇾 Supporting voluntary returns and investing in post-conflict reconstruction, such as in Syria, is crucial to stabilize countries and prevent future displacement.