Beirut: Europe and the Arabs
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said that ongoing, recurring conflicts and fragility directly affect 182 million people in nine countries in the Arab region, and exacerbate the refugee crisis.
She added in her speech before the 2024 Arab Forum for Sustainable Development, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, that the war in Gaza is the latest example of this, noting that 43% of the dead are children, “children.” “They have lives, hopes, and aspirations that are being cut short.” According to what was reported in the United Nations daily news bulletin, a copy of which we received on Wednesday morning
“Let us remember the children of Gaza,” Mohammed said. “Those we lost, and those who survived. And we raise our voices to end the massacre in Gaza. And return to the peace process for a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel living side by side in peace.”
She stressed that challenges such as those facing the region are a reminder that “there cannot be sustainable development without peace.”
She explained that sustainable development in the Arab world and in other parts of the world “remains elusive.”
She warned that in addition to conflicts, there are high levels of inequality, economic stagnation, poverty, hunger, and limited institutional accountability to support development, adding that in 2021, a third of the population of the Arab region suffered from moderate or severe food insecurity.
She also pointed to the severe social and economic impacts of the cost of living crisis, and the doubling of extreme poverty in the region to exceed 20% in 2023, in addition to the widening financing gap hindering progress in the Arab region, and climatic and environmental challenges, including droughts, floods, and sand and dust storms, restricting economies and threatening societies.
Signs of hope
Despite this, “there are signs of hope,” the UN Deputy Secretary-General said, noting that there is a need to intensify work on policies and investments that can lead to transformative change.
She explained that many Arab countries are already working to accelerate efforts to achieve major transformations, including those related to clean energy, food systems, digitalization, social protection reforms, and economic diversification.
Mohammed discussed in detail five of these key transformations, the first of which is inclusive and sustainable energy combined with climate action.
She said that the Arab region has achieved progress in universal access to energy services and that there are positive models for sustainable energy development, but in various parts of the region, dependence on fossil fuels remains very high.
She called for supporting investments in renewable energy through ambitious nationally determined contributions, as called for by the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).
The UN official spoke about food security and sustainable food systems, saying that "many Arab countries have taken steps to integrate food systems into all national sustainable development strategies and plans."
She pointed out that the United Arab Emirates and Jordan are inspiring examples in this field.
Among the main areas of transformation are decent jobs and social protection, as the Deputy Secretary-General indicated that only 35.1% of the population of the Arab region was covered by at least one social protection program in 2020.
She added that some countries are showing what is possible, citing social protection programs in both the Sultanate of Oman and Bahrain.
Directing attention to the future
The Deputy Secretary-General said that education is a pillar for achieving development for all, noting that Arab countries have achieved progress in expanding access to education and reducing gender gaps. But she also pointed out that inequalities and varying quality of education persist.
Muhammad stressed that with regard to digital communication, the gap between and within the countries of the Arab region is still huge, explaining that reaping the benefits of these technologies requires investment in public infrastructure.
She called on all countries to take the necessary measures to bridge the digital divide, stressing the importance of this matter to achieve a sustainable future for all.
She stressed the importance of the Future Summit, which will be held in September, which represents “an opportunity to strengthen the role of global cooperation in supporting sustainable development, peace and human rights for all.”
"As your countries invest in the transformations we are discussing today, let us also turn our eyes to the future. Let us build a global environment that is more supportive of health, peace and sustainable development," she added.