The sixth meeting of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ (OCHA) Donor Support Group took place in Riyadh, marking the final meeting under the presidency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The event was attended by representatives from 30 donor countries and a team of senior officials from OCHA.
Chaired by Dr. Aqeel bin Juman Al-Ghamdi, head of the Saudi Arabian delegation and assistant supervisor general of the King Salman Humanitarian Relief Center, the meeting addressed various topics related to humanitarian work. Al-Ghamdi emphasized the significance of the Kingdom’s leadership in the field of humanitarian aid.
Discussions during the meeting covered recent developments in humanitarian efforts, funding gaps in aid, and the increasing global humanitarian needs resulting from emergencies such as the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. The participants also reviewed the current state of global humanitarian affairs, OCHA’s budget for 2023, priorities, field experiences, and efforts to diversify donors and mobilize resources.
Al-Ghamdi highlighted the challenges faced by humanitarian work, including the rising number of refugees due to disasters, the need for adequate financing, and the accessibility of aid in conflict areas. He expressed concern that only around 16 to 20 percent of the required humanitarian assistance had been collected so far this year.
During the meeting, donor countries emphasized the importance of implementing reforms in the humanitarian program cycle. They called upon OCHA to prepare for the reform processes with the involvement of local aid recipients and humanitarian actors.
Al-Ghamdi also mentioned the obstacles faced by relief workers and humanitarian efforts, including hindered access to those in need due to conflicts and the interference of militias.
As the meeting concluded, Al-Ghamdi handed over the presidency of the OCHA Donor Support Group to Luxembourg, which will lead the group’s meetings for the 2023-2024 period.
The meeting in Riyadh served as a platform for important discussions on addressing global humanitarian needs, strengthening financing efforts, and ensuring effective aid delivery to affected populations. The transition of the group’s presidency to Luxembourg sets the stage for continued collaboration and progress in the field of humanitarian assistance.
