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facing great risks. The United Na- Q; You have often said that
tions continues to support humani- prevention should be key in
tarian work around the world, most order to avoid crises like the
notably in Syria, where the chal- one we currently see in Mali.
lenges - in terms of the numbers of How could this be organized,
people in need, problems of access, and do you really think it
lack of funding and risks from hea- would be possible for the UN
vy fighting - have been immense. to make a difference in this
Yet despite those challenges, area?

control over the armed forces.
The United Nations is organizing
prevention efforts and is making
a difference, particularly in our
collaborative work with regio-
nal groups. We are working to
strengthen the Southern Afri-
can Development Community's
(SADC) conflict prevention and
early warning architecture. We are
pursuing our ten-year capacity-
building partnership with the Afri-
can Union. And we are working
the United Nations remains com- The United Nations has been working
with regional partners all over the
mitted to its humanitarian ope- to strengthen conflict prevention
rations, from Afghanistan to the efforts all around the world, inclu- world to boost our efforts to pre-
vent conflicts at the outset.
Sahel to Haiti and beyond. I do not ding in Africa. To prevent conflicts,
worry about the growth of humani- we must strengthen democracy,
tarian work as long as it is clear, as build stronger, more resilient,
it is now, that humanitarian wor- accountable State institutions, en-
kers will continue to put people and sure adequate checks and balances,
their needs first. promote the rule of law and work
to establish effective democratic

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