Statement by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare on the Occasion of World Humanitarian Day, 18th August 2023
Honorable Government and PFDJ Officials
Distinguished representatives of our development partners
Ladies and Gentlemen,
World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is commemorated annually on the 19th of August. It is a day dedicated to honor those affected, injured, or lost their lives due to natural and human-made disasters. This is also a day when people renew their promise to humanity.
This year, World Humanitarian Day is commemorated in Eritrea under the theme: ‘Collective Humanitarianism’ through social justice, self-reliance, and community participation approach.” The marking of the occasion at Mai Dimnet by undertaking tree seedlings planting activities is intended to demonstrate the environmental protection efforts being made to combat climate change and desertification as one of the means to avert humanitarian disasters. On behalf of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, I would like to thank you for participating in this momentous event.
Human beings are continually exposed to natural and human-made hazards. Several interventions have been made to avoid these risks. However, the response to these humanitarian crises unfolding everywhere in this world, have lacked completeness and balance. People continue to suffer from wars, displacement and lack of social justice, as well as natural disasters in the form of drought, floods, heat waves, wildfires and pests and exposed to hunger, malnutrition and disease. Moreover, the increase in disparity between the poor and rich, depletion of natural resources and environmental devastation continue to be aggravating the poverty and insecurity of the living conditions of people globally.
In order to mitigate the humanitarian crises that continue to threaten humanity, there is a need for heightened concerted efforts based on collective commitment to the principles of social justice, self-reliance, human dignity and welfare. However, in order to give lasting results, it has to be aligned with sustainable development programs.
The African, i.e. Eritrean tradition of extended household and family structure, upholds human dignity and give high value and respect to human right. Core principle of community participation and mutual support are fundamental traits that have been established and firmly rooted in Eritrea’s cultural and societal norms. The capacity to generate collective resolutions to individual and common challenges and problems, without prioritizing personal gain identifies the distinctive characteristics of Eritrean society. Furthermore, caring for and supporting the vulnerable and needy segment of the society are inherent qualities of the Eritrean people. This cultural heritage is glorified through the folktales and proverbs of all ethnic groups.
Throughout the armed struggle for independence, the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF), drawing from the cultural ethos and values of the Eritrean populace while harnessing its internal dynamics, had been fully committed to humanitarian and human rights principles. This was expressed by the support it extended to the hundreds of thousands of persons, comprising orphans, unattended children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly, afflicted by both natural and human-induced adverse calamities. This has been the cornerstone that enabled them to build self-reliant livelihoods. The legacy of this historic principles lives to this day.
This humanitarian principle of the EPLF had not been limited to its people, but also extended in the handling of the Ethiopian Prisoners of war, who were disregarded by their Government and by the international humanitarian community. The EPLF treated these prisoners with honor and impartiality, complying with the provisions of the Geneva Convention. Moreover, it released and repatriated the prisoners to their homeland based on its unilateral accord. This remains an inherent true image of the political and humanitarian policies underlying the actions of the GoSE in response to any arising humanitarian challenges.
The commitment, optimism and positive thinking that is sourced and developed from culture and experience, is well magnified and continued with full traction after independence too. Leveraging and using the GoSE and PFDJ national charter, macro and sectoral policies as roadmap coupled with extended community participation, the Government has been working towards collective humanitarianism, social justice and self-reliance.
As part of the safety-net and building of the people’s resilience against humanitarian crises, the government makes significant investment in eradicating illiteracy, elevating awareness and widely disseminating education among the citizens, as well as ensuring universal access to free and compulsory education and health care services across all regions. Strategic environmental interventions aimed at soil and water conservation, afforestation, terracing, as well as the construction of reservoirs and dams and infrastructural development, have yielded tangible results in the protection of the Eritrean people from being afflicted by devastating humanitarian conditions.
In pursuit of enhancing employment opportunities, citizens are being empowered with business start-up support and equipped with technical and professional skills training. To alleviate the challenges faced by vulnerable groups of the society, community-centered initiatives and approaches are being put into effect, yielding notable positive changes. This constructive trajectory as always needs to be sustainable requires as before collective, coordinated and resilient endeavors.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare urges all to uphold collective humanitarianism values and abide by the principles of fairness, to cultivate lasting peace and social equity, and foster collective humanitarianism efforts, while harnessing our internal capacities and potentials.
I extend my gratitude to those who organized and provided support for this event.
“Collective Humanitarianism’ through social justice, self-reliance, and community participation”
Eternal glory to our martyrs!
Victory to the Masses!