Faced with “the scale of human suffering”, a British diplomat launches an appeal to world leaders

Martin Griffiths, head of the UN humanitarian affairs office, will leave his post in June. Having spent much of his career in war zones, he is particularly concerned about the current situation with the many war grounds around the world.

“We need leaders who unite us”,launches, Monday June 17, Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, in the New York Times (paid article). This British diplomat has worked for 40 years for the United Nations or for humanitarian organizations as an international mediator. At the end of June, he will leave his position for health reasons. Before leaving he wanted to launch an appeal in the American daily newspaper. A call to world leaders, because he said he spent much of his career in war zones, but nothing prepared him for “the extent of human suffering”, which he has witnessed for three years. From “the Russian offensive in Ukraine, the tanks rolling towards kyiv, the brutal fighting, the incessant attacks, before the atrocious conflict in Sudan where two generals clash for power while thousands of people are killed.”

Martin Griffiths also cites “the terrible attacks by Hamas against Israel on October 7 and the bombardment of Gaza which transformed the enclave into a veritable hell on earth.” Not to mention the “Millions of other people around the world are suffering just as much in unresolved conflicts that no longer make the headlines – in Syria, Yemen or the DRC to name just a few.” According to Martin Griffiths, the suffering of these millions of people is clear proof of a failure of world leaders. “This suffering, he believes, this is precisely what the modern world order, created after World War II and embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, was intended to prevent.” For Martin Griffiths, “It is a failure of world leaders, who are failing in their duty to humanity by breaking the pact between ordinary people and those in power.”

Particularly critical of the Israeli authorities’ obstacles to letting humanitarian aid enter Gaza, Martin Griffiths denounces “a lack of leadership particularly evident in the almost unconditional support given by some nations to their allies despite ample evidence of violations of international rules.”

The head of the humanitarian affairs office “keep hope” . “I have noticed throughout my career that humanity, compassion, and the desire to help are still as strong as ever”he emphasizes. “If we want a better future, concludes Martin Griffiths, we need leaders who unite us, able and willing to harness our collective humanity, and reinvigorate our trust in our shared laws and institutions. Leaders with the will to realize the immense hope and ambition of the United Nations Charter.”