WRMC Chair Ninette Kelley writes in The Globe and Mail that the international humanitarian system has long needed reform, but Canada’s recent retreat, alongside other donors, represents a missed opportunity to improve it rather than shrinking and weakening it.
At least 72 migrants died last month when tens of thousands of people surged into the small Spanish enclave of Ceuta, inflaming political divisions across Europe. Even though most of the migrants quickly returned to Morocco, the incident continues to grab global attention.
Meanwhile, a global humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in areas far removed from Ceuta and from the public eye – precipitated by unprecedented cuts to humanitarian assistance.
It began last year, with a 50-per-cent reduction in funding from the United States, which had been the backbone of the humanitarian system for decades. Other major donors have also reduced their commitments since then, including Canada, which intends to further cut its aid budget by an estimated 12 per cent by 2029.
Excerpt from:
“Opinion: Global humanitarian crises are getting worse. Where is Canada?”
Ninette Kelley in The Globe and Mail
https://lnkd.in/g3EZNE7B
Photo: UNHCR
