ADRA Supports World Humanitarian Summit and Proposed Goals for Worldwide Change
ISTANBUL, TURKEY –The first ever World Humanitarian Summit will take place on May 23-24, 2016, in Istanbul, Turkey. The event was initiated by the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, and focuses on a call to action for worldwide change.
Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International welcomes this historic event and supports its goals to find actionable solutions for billions of people living in poverty and crisis.
Knowing that the provision of humanitarian aid to alleviate suffering is just a first step, all efforts should be made to end need at its source and enable sustainable development.
Monitoring conditions to anticipate crises and putting a stronger focus on disaster preparation help reduce risk and improve local response capacity. These initiatives must coincide with efforts to improve overall emergency response in a coordinated manner and respond to collective outcomes.
As an international, faith-based organization working in development and humanitarian aid, ADRA’s network highlights the importance of investing in local partnerships. These partnerships strengthen the capacity of acting agencies and improve resilience to prevent conflicts, reduce disaster risks, and react adequately in emergencies.
ADRA considers its holistic approach as a source of providing care, education, health, and welfare services to poor and affected population segments in order to enable them to live in dignity. In this context, ADRA recommends an investment in humanity through the empowerment of women and young people organized in institutions, including churches and faith-based entities, and use their potential for positive transformations at the local, national and international levels.