Minister of State for International Cooperation: World Faces Unprecedented Conflicts, Displacement, Violations of International Law
Doha, April 08 (QNA) - HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad highlighted the unprecedented global challenges of today, ranging from conflicts that make no distinction between civilians and combatants to waves of mass displacement, pointing to blatant violations of international humanitarian law, such as the obstruction of humanitarian and food aid, the targeting of vital infrastructure and humanitarian workers, and restrictions on organizations operating in conflict zones.
Speaking during the opening of the two-day Humanitarian Leadership Conference (HLC 2025), organized by the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies in collaboration with the Center for Humanitarian Leadership at Deakin University in Australia, Her Excellency remarked that the world today faces interwoven and escalating crises, where no sooner does one humanitarian crisis subside than it is replaced by another, harsher one.
Her Excellency added that with every crisis, innocent victims are deprived of their right to development, and even their right to a dignified life, stressing that with the widening scale of suffering and the growing number of victims, humanitarian response can no longer be the responsibility of one country or entity alone; it requires collective action, comprehensive cooperation, and serious political will.
HE the Minister emphasized that from its moral and humanitarian responsibility, the State of Qatar believes in the necessity of mobilizing international efforts to confront these crises, prevent violations, and establish peace, adding that the State of Qatar, firmly committed to the principles of international humanitarian law, works closely with regional and international partners to protect civilians, ensure aid reaches those in dire need, and activate legal accountability mechanisms at the international level.
Her Excellency noted that despite increasing challenges in humanitarian work, such as funding shortages and heightened risks faced by relief workers, which have forced many organizations to scale back their operations, the State of Qatar has continued to play its role in numerous crisis areas worldwide, including Palestine and Sudan and other countries.
On the occupied Palestinian territories, Her Excellency reiterated that the recent military escalation in Gaza has once again exposed the fragility of the international system in protecting civilians, noting the systematic targeting of infrastructure and civilian facilities, with thousands of children and women among the casualties.
Her Excellency said that the State of Qatar has actively participated in international efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement, in partnership with Egypt and the United States, adding that Her Excellency underscored the importance of implementing all stages of the agreement, including the release of prisoners and detainees, halting aggression, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2735.
She added that, despite challenges, the State of Qatar has continued to deliver urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza in coordination with the United Nations and will not stop as long as there is a child sleeping under the rubble or a patient awaiting inaccessible medicine.
HE Minister of State for International Cooperation continued that the ongoing war in Sudan has resulted in a rapidly escalating humanitarian disaster, with rising internal and external displacement and worsening basic needs, reaffirming Qatar's commitment to providing urgent assistance, supporting humanitarian programs, and calling on all parties to engage in dialogue, emphasizing Qatar's belief that lasting solutions to conflicts can only be achieved through dialogue and political understanding, no matter how long such conflicts persist.
HE Al Misnad underscored the imperative of reassessing joint action mechanisms, galvanizing political will and international support, optimizing coordination, and reinforcing transparency and accountability, grounded in accurate data to delineate priorities and needs that ensure effective humanitarian response.
She stressed the need to evolve response mechanisms toward greater adaptability and resilience, extending beyond aid to encompass prevention, capacity-building, and diplomatic leverage to safeguard civilians and hold violators of international law accountable.
The international community must fully shoulder its responsibilities, rather than falter before tragedies or grow desensitized to anguish, Her Excellency underlined, stressing that acquiescence to the status quo is rejected and instead unity should be made to reshape it upon principles of justice, dignity, and compassion.
In her concluding remarks, she highlighted that she is pretty confident in this conference, by virtue of its diverse intellect and expertise, to serve as a platform for crafting novel visions and bold initiatives capable of impacting concrete change on the ground.
For his part, Director of the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, Dr. Ghassan Elkahlout, affirmed that convening this conference amid mounting and complex global crises manifests a profound recognition that conventional humanitarian action now faces formidable tests, conceptually and operationally, in terms of its moral and political legitimacy.
Unprecedented pressure has been placed on the international humanitarian system, as people now contend with dwindling resources, increasingly complex compliance frameworks, shrinking space for neutrality, independence, and integrity, and the systematic targeting of organizations and humanitarian workers, whether through deliberate killings, legal constraints, politicized accusations, financial restrictions, or the erosion of trust, Dr. Elkahlout underlined.
He noted that, conversely, the demand for humanitarian aid continues to intensify, not only in conflict zones, but also within economically fragile communities, in response to mounting natural disasters, and amid the accelerating impacts of climate change.
He further emphasized that the conference’s theme, represented in humanitarian leadership in a world of multiple crises, aptly responds to an urgent need to redefine who leads, how, and in whose interest, asserting that leadership is no longer solely tied to authority, funding, or formal representation, but rather to the ability to reconcile ethics with effectiveness, bridge local and global contexts, and elevate marginalized voices into the realm of decision-making.
Dr. Elkahlout highlighted that this conference can't be approached without acknowledging the profound humanitarian tragedies unfolding across the globe and the region, foremost of which is the ongoing catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, stressing that this is not a transient humanitarian crisis, but rather a seismic blow to all who uphold the values and significance of the humanitarian system.
Since October 2023, civilians in Gaza have faced a situation that is catastrophic by every measure, he said, affirming that this is not mere anguish, but a documented massacre unfolding before the world’s eyes, amid a numbness of the international system, a troubling erosion of legal authority, and a stark absence of will to fulfill the responsibility to protect.
The reference to Gaza in this convention is not a political stance, but a humanitarian and academic imperative, one that compels every single person to reassess the tools of the responsibility to protect, the criteria for humanitarian intervention, and the very concept of humanitarian leadership in the face of mass atrocities, Dr. Elkahlout underlined.
He emphasized that Qatar’s role in supporting humanitarian action, both regionally and globally, can't be ignored, highlighting that over the past decades, Qatar has served as a vital contributor to relief and development efforts, while fostering spaces for humanitarian dialogue and academic discourse on the ethical and political challenges confronting the sector, thereby reflecting an increasing commitment to advancing a more just and sustainable humanitarian approach. (QNA)
