The Regional Consultation on HIV/AIDS and the Southern African Humanitarian Crisis, took place in Johannesburg, South Africa from 6-7 November 2002, attended by approximately 70 participants from UN Agencies and civil society organisations interested in HIV/AIDS and/or humanitarian assistance in Southern Africa. The meeting was jointly organised by the UNAIDS Inter-country Team for Eastern and Southern Africa and the United Nations Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Support Office (RIACSO).
The consultation was aimed at reviewing the present humanitarian crisis in Southern Africa within the context of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the region and the overall recovery process of individuals and communities. The matrix developed by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee on HIV/AIDS and Emergencies as well as the recommendations resulting from the mission of the UN Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, Mr Jim Morris, provided the basis upon which the discussions took place.
The objectives of the meeting were therefore to
- To share perceptions of the contribution of HIV/AIDS to the existing humanitarian crisis in Southern Africa
- To advocate for the integration of HIV/AIDS into impact and vulnerability assessment surveys as a key parameter
- To identify emerging opportunities for accelerating HIV-programming through synergy with the overall crisis response
- To explore areas of collaboration with all stakeholders to rapidly reduce vulnerability
- To agree on the way forward to address HIV/AIDS and the humanitarian crisis
In his welcoming address the UNDP Resident Coordinator and Chairperson of the HIV/AIDS Theme Group in South Africa, Mr John Ohiorhenuan, warned that unless the social forces underlying the HIV/AIDS, humanitarian and food crisis in Southern Africa were better understood, the emergency would become worse. In particular he noted that the problems were related and represented a vicious cycle that called for a more comprehensive response to challenge the issue at hand.
In this regard the plenary presentations presented during the consultation reflected on the how the present crisis confronting Southern Africa was different from previous food and humanitarian crises that the region confronted. Presenters examined how the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the humanitarian crisis are impacting on coping mechanisms undermining and fundamentally changing the recovery system. In addition they reflected on the resource needs, including financial and human resources, required in order to respond to the crisis immediately and in the long term.
Informing the consultation were presentations by Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These presentations provided an up-to-date account of the present situation confronting each of the countries. Group work provided the opportunity for participants using their relevant areas of expertise to make recommendations and propose practical measures in which existing programmes and responses could be utilised to address the present humanitarian crisis and HIV/AIDS.
|
