This statement was delivered by the UK Human Rights
Ambassador Rita French at the 74th UNHCR Executive
Committee.
Thank you Chair, High Commissioner, and distinguished delegates.
The UK expresses its deepest sympathies to those killed by the
earthquakes in Afghanistan and the terrorist acts in Israel. We
express our steadfast support to the State of Israel, and our
unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of
terrorism.
As you recognised, High Commissioner, the conflict in the Middle
East is a ‘dangerous piece in a growing mosaic of crises,’
alongside rising forced displacement – now at over 110 million
people.
In recognition of these rising urgent humanitarian needs, in
2024-2025, the UK intends to spend £1 billion globally. We have
also sustained our core, unearmarked funding in 2023 and
encourage others to likewise provide flexible contributions.
High Commissioner, I would like to express our deep gratitude to
UNHCR staff for your invaluable work and we applaud UNHCR’s
ongoing Business Transformation efforts to make the organisation
more effective and efficient.
I want to recognise the continued generosity and leadership of
host nations and communities for providing sanctuary to forcibly
displaced people.
We are gravely concerned about displacement globally, including
the continued crisis in Sudan which has displaced 1.1 million
people, with more affected by the day. The continued widespread
violence across the country and significant civilian death toll
are horrific. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid
Support Forces (RSF) have dragged Sudan into a wholly unjustified
war, with utter disregard for the Sudanese people, and they will
be held accountable.
Chad, Egypt and South Sudan have led the way in providing
protection to those fleeing violence. But the impact on these
generous host nations – all of whom are facing their own
humanitarian or economic challenges – is immense.
In addition to £21.7 million for humanitarian assistance inside
Sudan, we have committed £5 million to help meet the urgent needs
of refugees and returnees in South Sudan and Chad.
We will tirelessly pursue all diplomatic avenues to press for a
permanent ceasefire, allow unfettered humanitarian access, and
commit to a sustained and meaningful peace process.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also displaced around 11 million
people and leaves nearly 18 million in humanitarian need.
In response, we have provided £347 million in humanitarian
assistance since the start of the invasion and, as of 25
September, there have been 186,600 arrivals of Ukrainian refugees
to the UK.
To reiterate our Foreign Secretary’s clear message, we remain
steadfast in our commitment to support Ukraine to recover its
territory and ‘win the peace’.
These are just two examples, but we are committed to using all
our diplomatic, development and humanitarian levers to support
all forcibly displaced people and peacebuilding globally. We will
renew our commitment to doing so in our Development White Paper
later this year.
The UK remains committed to the Global Compact on Refugees as the
best strategy to achieve greater burden- and
responsibility-sharing. We recognise the fundamental part the
Compact plays in ensuring the international protection regime is
fit for the 21st century, including supporting inclusion and
protection of the most vulnerable, including women and girls, the
LGBT+ community and those with disabilities.
Therefore, the UK aligns itself with the statement of Group of
Friends on the Charter on Disability Inclusion.
The Global Refugee Forum is an opportunity for the international
community to recommit to the Global Compact. And we look forward
to announcing our pledges at the Forum in December.
UNHCR estimates there are 10 million stateless people worldwide
with the Rohingya the single largest stateless population of two
million and increasing, and the UK aligns itself with the
statement of the Group of Friends on Statelessness.
Over the past six years, the UK has provided £365 million to the
response in Bangladesh and nearly £30 million to Rohingya and
other Muslim minorities in Rakhine State.
But the situation remains desperate.
The long-term solution for this crisis must be the safe,
voluntary, and dignified return of the Rohingya to Rakhine state,
once the conditions allow.
We remain committed to making this a reality, and to supporting
Rohingya refugees across the region until they can return home.
High Commissioner, the UK Minister for the region is pleased to
be co-convening the Rohingya Conference in Bangkok next week
alongside UNHCR.
On the International Day of the Girl, I want to highlight that
statelessness is a gender equality issue.
There are 24 countries that do not allow women to pass on their
citizenship on an equal basis to men. These laws are a root cause
of childhood and multi-generational statelessness. We call on
these countries to reform their nationality laws.
Statelessness can be ended. And we look forward to joining the
Global Alliance to End Statelessness when it is launched in 2024
to help make this happen.
