Humanitarian crisis prevention stands out as a UN priority on this World Refugee Day. The figures speak for themselves. More than 120 million people are displaced worldwide. Two billion human beings live in areas affected by conflict. Each displacement is a life interrupted, a family scattered, a future suspended.
Faced with this reality, President Macky Sall defends a simple conviction. The causes of displacement must be treated, not only the symptoms. Humanitarian aid remains indispensable. It saves lives every day. But it cannot replace the political action that stops crises from erupting.
This is the meaning of the first pillar of his vision for the United Nations: prevention as the priority. This pillar organizes a synergy between peace operations, development agencies and humanitarian organizations. These three families of actors too often work in silos. They must act together, in the same places, with shared objectives. Preventing a conflict costs less than managing one. Above all, it spares immense suffering.
Senegal gives this conviction a concrete anchor. The country is a recognized land of welcome in West Africa. It is also a historic contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations. Generations of Senegalese blue helmets have served in the most difficult theatres. President Macky Sall sustained this commitment throughout his tenure.
This dual experience grounds a demanding approach to the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. Displaced persons need immediate protection. They also need prospects: education, employment, and the possibility of return in safety and dignity. Host communities need durable support. The United Nations must meet these three demands at the same time.
On this World Refugee Day, President Macky Sall addresses a message of respect to displaced persons and to the countries that host them. He proposes a method to Member States: invest in prevention, coordinate the instruments of the Organization and measure the results. His full proposals are available at www.mackysall.net.