Minister: Estonia focuses on Ukraine, Syria in provision of humanitarian aid

TALLINN – In the provision of humanitarian aid, Estonia focuses on Ukraine and Syria, Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser said in remarks issued on the occasion of the World Humanitarian Day on Saturday.

Mikser highlighted the importance of humanitarian aid and Estonia's support for civilians who have come under threat in armed conflicts, as no one should have to feel constant fear. The minister named Syria and Ukraine as target countries of humanitarian aid that are important for Estonia, spokespeople for the Foreign Ministry said.

Estonia has allocated almost 2.8 million euros in humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the beginning of 2014 and 6.8 million euros to Syria since 2012.

"In both regions it is important to improve the protection of humanitarian aid workers, as well as to ensure safe and effective access to humanitarian aid," Mikser said. "No individual should feel constant fear for their own life and the lives of their close ones. We must protect innocent people who, by the will of fate, live in a conflict region and have been unable to leave. This concerns particularly women and children suffering from violence."

Mikser expressed regret that humanitarian crises continue to be on the growth trend and the nature of crises and access to the people in need of help have become more difficult, and the provision of humanitarian aid more dangerous. This year, an estimated 130 million people in 40 countries are in need of humanitarian aid.

"Attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure and humanitarian workers are not permissible and deserve strong condemnation and particular attention from the international community," Mikser said, stressing that attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers are in obvious contradiction with international humanitarian law, the aim of which is to limit the impact of armed conflicts on civilians.

On Aug. 19, 2003, a terrorist attack hit the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, killing 22 people. Among those who lost their lives was Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN's top representative in Iraq.

Five years later, the General Assembly adopted a resolution designating Aug. 19 as World Humanitarian Day. Every year since then, the humanitarian community has organized global campaigns to commemorate WHD, advocating for the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers, and for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises.

The theme of WHD 2017, #NotATarget, is aimed to reaffirm that civilians caught in conflict are not a target.