Address by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs & Trade and Industry, Mr Raymond Lim, on the occasion of the APB Foundation - SIF Humanitarian Relief Conference 2002, 13 Sept 2002

Mr Raymond Lim, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs & Trade and Industry, spoke on the occasion of the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation - SIF Humanitarian Relief Conference 2002 on "Disaster Relief in Asia - Sharing Experiences and Forging Ties" on Friday, 13 September 2002 at 9.20am. Enclosed is the text of the speech delivered by MOS Mr Raymond Lim.

. . . . .

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
13 SEPTEMBER 2002

============================================================

ADDRESS BY MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR RAYMOND LIM, ON THE OCCASION OF THE APB FOUNDATION - SIF HUMANITARIAN RELIEF CONFERENCE 2002 ON "DISASTER RELIEF IN ASIA - SHARING EXPERIENCES AND FORGING TIES" ON FRIDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2002 AT 9.20AM.

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Whenever the word 'disaster' is mentioned, we often envisage scenes of destruction caused by floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or some other natural phenomenon. However, disasters should not just be defined by their cause. Whether man-made or natural, disasters should be defined by the consequences they have for individuals, families and societies in terms of physical, economic and psychological loss.

2 In the past year alone, Asia has experienced 3 large-scale disasters - the earthquake in Iran, the floods in China and the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. While each disaster was of a different nature, the effects for the affected communities were similarly devastating. More than the immediate financial and human losses, the afflicted communities are also faced with the longer term challenge of rebuilding their houses, the physical infrastructure in their villages/towns/cities and more importantly, their livelihoods.

3 Yet in the face of such dire circumstances hope and relief came, not only from government assistance, but also from the compassion of ordinary citizens. The Afghan humanitarian crisis saw an outpouring of assistance from all segments of our community. When the Singapore Red Cross appeal for Afghanistan was closed, more than $1.5 million was raised, with contributions coming from all sectors of Singaporean society. In addition, the SIF, in partnership with four other organisations, the Red Cross, Mercy Relief (Perdaus), National Healthcare Group and Singapore Health Services, launched Singapore's most complex and longest civilian medical mission to Afghanistan in March this year.

Development of the field of humanitarian assistance and relief in Singapore

4 In Singapore, the field of humanitarian relief is still relatively young. However, non-government and community-based organisations (CBOs), such as the SIF, the Singapore Red Cross, Perdaus or Mercy Relief, the Soka Association, to name a few, have contributed greatly to raising the profile of humanitarian relief work in Singapore. They have done so by raising public awareness about ongoing humanitarian crises and their devastating consequences for societies and individuals.

5 More importantly, they have provided an avenue for interested Singaporeans to contribute to humanitarian relief efforts. As we mature as a society, we see more and more Singaporeans stepping up to volunteer their time and services to help the disaster stricken. For example, in the past year alone, Singaporeans have responded to disasters as near as Vietnam, and as far away as Iran and China. Local organisations play a critical role in sustaining this interest by providing the opportunities and support for Singaporeans to experience relief work first hand.

6 Going forward though, if local relief organisations are serious in wanting to make a sustained impact in the field of humanitarian assistance, they need to strengthen their networks within the local community as well as with regional and international relief groups.

7 First, Singapore is a small country. Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, at SIF's 10th Anniversary last year, had pointed out that, our size and limited resources required us to look at Singapore's international assistance in its totality. As one of the pillars of our international image, it was important to recognise that the provision of international assistance was not the monopoly of the government or any single organisation. Similarly, the very nature of our size and limited resources, makes it very good sense for us to adopt a 'total' approach in the provision of humanitarian assistance. For Singapore to make a noticeable impact, we need the concerted contributions of all Singaporeans that come about through the formation of partnerships amongst the local community. The relief efforts of Singaporean organisations in Afghanistan firmly underscores this point.

8 Second, each and every disaster that occurs is different, in terms of magnitude, the nature of the destruction, and the ability of the local authorities and people of the affected area to cope with the disaster. It is often impossible for any one organisation to single-handedly respond to a humanitarian crisis that occurs. The humanitarian needs of the afflicted community are often too complex for a single organisation to fulfil. Partnering up with different relief organisations, with volunteers with different areas of expertise and experience, ensures that the humanitarian relief efforts are comprehensive in scope and coverage.

9 The United Nations is a good example of how effective humanitarian relief is provided through partnerships. If you take a look at Reliefweb - a website managed by the UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - you will notice that a variety of UN agencies, such as the World Food Programme, UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO amongst others, are involved in complex humanitarian situations to see to the needs of the affected communities.

10 Third, in a humanitarian crisis, what is crucial is that assistance and relief efforts are channelled to where they would be most effective. Such efforts to link up supply with demand are especially difficult in a crisis situation when communication systems are destroyed or severely hampered. For an organisation that is not familiar with the area and the local authorities, one of the most important elements for an effective relief operation is to find an effective local partner, or an established partner with extensive experience in disaster relief and management.

11 For example, the Red Cross Movement has become synonymous with the provision of humanitarian assistance and relief. One of the key reasons behind its ability to reach out to disaster stricken communities all around the globe is the network of National Societies that exist in over 180 countries. The extensive network and intimate knowledge of local conditions, which are provided by the National Societies, are essential assets to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) in their planning and conduct of their operations. In turn, National Societies are able to tap on the expertise and support of the IFRC.

12 I note that our local relief efforts are also taking a similar direction. For example, the humanitarian relief mission to Afghanistan was the result of a partnership of five local organisations to provide medical as well as food assistance to the Afghan refugees. This conference is another good example of how partnerships, this time with the private sector, namely Asia Pacific Breweries, can enhance the ability of the local community to develop its own capacity. I would firmly like to encourage the continuation of such partnerships.

Role of Volunteers

13 I have spoken about partnerships within the local community and with regional and international organisations. But let us not forget the most important partnership that has to be strengthened and nurtured - that between the organisation and the individual volunteer. When we talk about the provision of humanitarian relief, we must also talk about the role of volunteers. People form the core of a relief mission. More than just providing the technical expertise, relief workers are the bearers of hope for the affected communities. I am therefore happy to be here today to pay tribute to the outstanding Singaporeans who have made the effort to undertake such important work to provide vital relief to disaster stricken communities. These relief missions are undertaken at the expense of demanding personal sacrifices in terms of time, family, and sometimes career and money. Their stories are heartwarming and inspirational.

Conclusion

14 Singapore is a small country. Our local relief community is small and still developing. As such, every single effort counts. It is therefore critical that, for the local relief community to develop, networks and partnerships have to be formed. However, because we are a small country and the demand for international humanitarian assistance is infinitely elastic, much as we would like to, we cannot respond to every disaster that occurs. In doing so, we run the risk of spreading our efforts too thinly. It is therefore important that we prioritise our assistance and it is inevitable that our priority must be on our own region, the ASEAN countries.

15 As we mature as a society, we can expect Singaporeans to become more involved in the provision of disaster relief. Non-government and community based organisations will play a very important role in shaping this involvement. In doing so, there is much that we can learn from the experiences of our own volunteers, as well as from the work of regional and international relief groups.

16 The Humanitarian Relief Conference is a timely and useful initiative. I am glad that the SIF has managed to secure the participation of speakers from across Asia such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, India, Japan and Thailand, as well as the participation of international relief agencies such as the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society, World Vision and the Asian Disaster Reduction Center. I would like to urge the local relief groups to take this valuable opportunity to establish connections and networks with the international participants present. As Singaporeans become more involved in the field of humanitarian relief, these networks will be necessary in facilitating the ability to deliver assistance efficiently and to the people who need it the most.

17 It gives me great pleasure to open the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation- Humanitarian Relief Conference on "Disaster in Asia - Sharing Experiences and Building Cooperation". I wish that all participants would have a fruitful learning experience.

. . . . .