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Q: Do you find it difficult taking For instance, when I visit a camp of In Geneva we have a well-functioning
over after Jan Egland, who was internally displaced persons, what I see partnership with all the UN agencies,
quite an outspoken man? is perhaps the better part of it. I do not NGOs, etc., and it's important that we
see the destruction and the killings. I maintain this partnership -- that we all
Not really. Jan Egeland was perhaps bear in mind that these people have work closely to improve the
from a different background than I, but gone through far more miseries than humanitarian work. Some of the
we are defending the same causes. We the awful things I see. NGOs are bigger in size than some of
have different styles, which is quite the UN agencies and it's important that
normal as we are different persons. One should also think about the we all work together.
humanitarian workers who go out
Q: We haven't seen you so much there to help -- not because of the 0: You have quite a lot of work
in the press though? money, not because of the prestige, but and much travelling. Do you
simply because they want to help. ever get time off?
Well, I might not have the same media
coverage, but nevertheless I have Q: On the subject of humanitarian Well, in this job with all this pressures
spoken quite a lot to the press lately workers, are you planning to do and the travelling everybody needs
about different subjects. anything additional for their time off, including me. So I try to get a
security? break from time to time. So far I have
0: Do you find it difficult to find been doing a lot of travelling, almost
funding for humanitarian crises? Last week I had the chance to speak in half of my time in office, which I think
the Security Council about the security is about the same as my predecessors.
It is true that with the humanitarian of the humanitarian workers, and it's
appeals, there is a difference between important to draw Member States' However, I must admit that I have been
what we usually request and the attention to this subject. quite lucky -- there has not so far been
amount that we actually receive. The any huge humanitarian crisis, but one
need is always so much higher. To help Q: But not everyone attends the day or another it will come
bridge the gap, we use the funds from SC meetings.
the Central Emergency Response Fund NOTES
(CERF). Of course, but it's important to draw ('MG: Companion of the Order of St
the attention of everybody to this Michael and St George. An honour usual/v
As for OCHA itself, OCHA is funded subject -- to start with, the Member awarded to ambassadors. CVO:
by voluntary contributions, and so far States, then the local government, Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
we cannot say that there is any rebels, etc. Humanitarian workers are conferred on those who have performed
personal services for the Queen. KBE:
problem. The CERF has far more there to help, with no political agenda.
Knight Commander of the Order of the
donors than the traditional donor They should not only get access to the British Empire, admission to knighthood
nations -- to date we have seventy catastrophes, but be protected and
giving the title of"Sir'GCVO: Knight
donors --who sometimes have given respected as well. Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
small amounts but nevertheless its an
important step. By 2008 we should Q: Do you have a particular
reach US$450 million; today we have message to the international
about US$346 million in pledges. community in Geneva?

Q: Is there an agency that is
going to be dedicated to inter-
nally displaced persons?

So far there have been no plans for
setting up an agency specifically for
IDPs.

0: When you travel and see all
this human misery, how do you
feel?

You have to react in a very
professional way, and turn this
frustration and anger into constructive
action. It's not easy, but that to my
(hI/dma poOng tom a photo afier picking giaiii at 010,10 IDP caniji, Kirrom District.
mind is the only way to do it.
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42007 Diva 5

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