STATEMENT BY COL FOO KHEE LOON, MILITARY ADVISOR, PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON NEW PARTNERSHIPS FOR HUMANITARIAN ACTION, 26 SEPTEMBER 2014

Thank you, Mr Chairman.

1             The theme for this High Level Meeting is certainly befitting of the times we live in. The immense challenges before us require that we engage in innovative approaches to humanitarian action, including searching out and building new partnerships with existing as well as emerging humanitarian practitioners.

2             Singapore strongly believes that one area that requires more attention is that of humanitarian civil-military coordination. Greater dialogue and coordination between military and civilian actors is essential if we are to provide timely and effective aid to those in need. It is with this in mind that we are working with OCHA towards holding a thematic consultation on civil-military coordination in Singapore next year in support of the preparations leading up to the World Humanitarian Summit.

3             Besides civil-military coordination, there is also scope to improve military-to-military coordination, particularly when it comes to disaster response. We believe more can be done on this front in our region. This is why Singapore has offered to host the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) Coordination Centre, or RHCC. The RHCC presents an opportunity for regional militaries to engage in practical cooperation to better coordinate their disaster response efforts.

Mr Chairman,

4             Before I conclude, let me reaffirm my country’s strong support for the World Humanitarian Summit process. Singapore was an active participant at the recent Regional Consultation for North and South-east Asia in Tokyo, and we hope to also actively contribute through our hosting of the thematic consultation on civil-military coordination next year.

5             Thank you.

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