By Linus Aleke
The Chair of Regional Experts’ and Ministerial Meetings on the adoption of the ECOWAS Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) Implementation Action Plan 2023-2026 and the ECOWAS Standarized Emergency Management Systems (ESEMS) in Abuja, Nigeria, Madam Ayesha Mariatu Ferreira,
urged ECOWAS Member States to localize the strategic plan and approach of the documents for their activities and actions, on refugee crisis management.
She said, this at a three days virtual expert and ministerial meeting organized by the ECOWAS Commission through the Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs.
She however, sought the support of ECOWAS Member States towards enhacing the effectiveness and efficiency of Emergency Response Preparedness in the sub-region
Ms. Ferreira, thanked the organizers for bringing knowledgeable professionals together to contribute inputs into the GCR and ECOWAS Emergency Management Systems.
The UNHCR Representative to Nigeria, Ms. Chansa Kapaya, said, UNHCR and ECOWAS Commission have collaborated for decades, which, has resulted in meaningful progress in terms of advocacy and awareness raising.
She added that the 2018 GCR provides a framework for more predictable and equitable responsibility sharing, recognizing that a sustainable refugee solution requires international cooperation.
Ms. Kapaya said it guides governments, international organizations and other stakeholders to assist host communities, refugees, stateless persons and other forcefully displaced people to live a productive life.
She praised the commitment of ECOWAS Member States to refugee crisis management as evidenced by their participation in event like this as well as ECOWAS Commission for their proactiveness in organizing the event.
Earlier a remarks, the Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe, said, the meetings become more imperative considering the displacments caused by conflict and climate oriented disasters that led to displacements of thousands of population the sub-region.
She revealed that the ECOWAS Standardized Emergency Management Systems is a tool that will enhance operationalization and deployment of ECOWAS Emergency Response Team.
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Dr. Ugbe, added that it is also, a tool to improve emergency preparedness and response to enhance building resilience.
She encouraged the experts at the meeting to study the plans with a view to make important inputs towards the final version of the documents.
