President Muhammadu Buhari called on the global community to give greater support to countries whose populace is suffering humanitarian crises caused by terrorism and civil strife.
Speaking in London on Thursday at the Supporting Syria and the Region conference in the British capital, President Buhari said that without collective support and assistance from all well-meaning countries, companies and organizations, the humanitarian catastrophe affecting millions of people in countries like Nigeria and Syria cannot be successfully addressed.
The President noted that the increasingly complex and inter-connected security challenges faced by the global community necessitate increased international cooperation in pursuit of effective solutions. President Buhari strongly condemned the continuing violence by terrorists against innocent civilians, abuse of human rights and destruction of public and private assets and cultural heritages in Nigeria, Syria and other countries of the world.
He told the gathering that having experienced civil war and terrorist insurgency, Nigeria understands the pains inflicted on the people of Syria and the hardship that innocent civilians suffer in the hands of misguided elements.
President Buhari called on all parties involved in the Syrian conflict to seek a peaceful resolution, saying that only a political solution could bring the ongoing tragedy in the country to an end. Concluding his address, President Buhari expressed Nigeria’s immense sympathy for the people of Syria.
“We all stand in solidarity with them. Despite the magnitude of our own challenges and the increasing stress on our economy, I reaffirm our Government’s commitment to support and assist the war-affected people of Syria,” he said.
Participants in the conference included the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway and the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Others were the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Peter Maurer, the President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, Helen Clark and the High Representative of the European Union, Federica Mogherini.
The Supporting Syria & the Region conference is co-hosted by the UK, Germany, Kuwait, Norway and the UN
