Many Leaders More Interested in Power than Helping End Conflicts, Says UN Humanitarian Chief
United Nations Humanitarian Chief Martin Griffiths has criticized world leaders for prioritizing power over ending conflicts. Speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday, Griffiths said that many conflicts worldwide were being prolonged by leaders who were more interested in maintaining their own grip on power than in finding peaceful solutions. “In too many conflicts, the warring parties are more interested in gaining or holding onto power than in the welfare of their people,” Griffiths said. “This is a shameful betrayal of their responsibilities.” He added that this lack of political will to end conflicts was having a devastating impact on civilians, who were often caught in the crossfire and deprived of basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter. “Civilians are bearing the brunt of these conflicts, and they are paying the ultimate price,” Griffiths said. “They are being killed, injured, displaced, and robbed of their basic rights.” Griffiths called on world leaders to put the needs of their people first and to work together to find peaceful solutions to conflicts. “We need to see a change in the behavior of those who are prolonging these conflicts,” he said. “They need to put the interests of their people first and work towards a just and sustainable peace.” Griffiths’ comments come as the UN Security Council is considering a resolution that would call for a ceasefire in Yemen, where a conflict has been raging for over seven years. The resolution, which was drafted by the United Kingdom, would also call for the resumption of peace talks between the warring parties. However, it is unclear whether the resolution will be passed, as Russia has expressed opposition to it. Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council, and it has the power to veto any resolution. If the resolution is not passed, it will be a major setback for efforts to end the conflict in Yemen. The conflict in Yemen has killed an estimated 377,000 people, including 40,000 children. The conflict has also displaced millions of people and created a severe humanitarian crisis.
UN Humanitarian Chief: Many Leaders More Interested in Power Than Ending Conflicts
March 8, 2023
United Nations (UN) humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths has criticized some leaders for prioritizing their own power over efforts to end conflicts around the world. In a recent speech, Griffiths condemned the “shameful reality” that many leaders are willing to prolong human suffering for political gain. “Far too often, we see that the interests of power and self-preservation take precedence over the welfare of the most vulnerable,” Griffiths said. He highlighted the ongoing conflicts in Yemen, Syria, and Ethiopia as examples where political ambitions had led to devastating humanitarian crises. Millions of civilians have been displaced, starved, and killed in these conflicts, with little progress towards a resolution. “In Yemen, we have witnessed a man-made famine, where political actors have weaponized hunger and used humanitarian aid as a political tool,” Griffiths said. “In Syria, a decade of war has left the country in ruins, with countless civilians caught in the crossfire.” Griffiths called on leaders to put the needs of civilians first and to work towards diplomatic solutions to conflicts. He urged them to increase funding for humanitarian assistance and to ensure that aid workers have unimpeded access to those in need. “It is time for leaders to show moral courage and put an end to these senseless conflicts,” Griffiths said. “They have a responsibility to prioritize human life and dignity over their own political ambitions.” Griffiths’ comments come amidst growing frustration within the UN humanitarian community over the lack of political will to resolve conflicts. Despite repeated calls for peace, violence continues to escalate in many parts of the world, with devastating consequences for civilians.