[JURIST] UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos said [text, PDF] Wednesday that humanitarian workers are increasingly being called on to deal with the consequences of crises that arise out of complex situations, including poor governance, political paralysis, underdevelopment, poverty and inequality. Amos, who also heads the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs [official website], delivered a lecture on the subject at the Council of Foreign Relations. Significant pressure has been placed on humanitarian workers who are working in politically hostile and often dangerous environments to protect innocent civilians caught in the middle of conflict. Often, the humanitarian workers lack the tools necessary to provide sufficient aid, and their lives are often in danger. In 2013 violence against humanitarian workers reached startling levels, with 251 separate attacks in which 155 aid workers were killed and 134 were kidnapped. Amos called for a stronger, more interventionist global community to deal with humanitarian crises. She also called for states to live up to their responsibility and protect their civilians. Despite the continued dangers, Amos said that humanitarian workers still provide assistance to those in need every day.

In the last month UN has expressed criticism over conflicts around the world [JURIST report]. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, briefing the General Assembly last week, presented [official statement] his report which proposes a new development agenda and called 2015 a “time for global action.” The Secretary-General said this year could see major advances in development, peace and human rights. This presentation came just one day after Ban spoke [JURIST report] out against the attack against the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The UN General Assembly adopted three draft resolutions in December to reinforce the UN’s emergency humanitarian response [JURIST report]. The drafts were adopted without a vote, and they concerned international cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, emphasizing the civilian character of humanitarian relief and encouraged the UN to prioritize the management of risks.