Ban calls on world to reform humanitarian aid finances

ISTANBUL, May 23 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called Monday on world leaders to make the necessary reforms for humanitarian aid finances and also engage in finding solutions to problems facing humanitarian assistance globally.
During the opening of World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Ban Ki-moon said there was a need to guide humanitarian finances to much larger portions of the world population and local communities in order to invest in building stabilized societies.
The UN chief noted that there was also a need to work together side by side based on joint priorities and in response to those millions in need due to ongoing crises.
For his part, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country was hosting more than three million Syrian and Iraqi refugees.
He noted that his country followed an open borders policy allowing all people, especially those escaping barrel bombs thrown on them, a reference to the Syrian regime's horrible acts.
On the summit's preparation, some 23,000 people were consulted in over 150 countries, said the UN.
The UN under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, Stephen O'Brien, said the summit's success would be defined not by funds raised but by the number of commitments to action made.
He said the summit is "a once in a generation opportunity to set in motion an ambitious and far-reaching agenda." (pickup previous) rs.mb