There is never a humanitarian solution for a humanitarian crisis. The solutions for the humanitarian crisis are always political ones.
Antonio GuterresRead
The international community spends much more time and resources managing crises than preventing them. But TV cameras are seldom there when a conflict is avoided, so it is difficult for governments and international organizations to make prevention a priority.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the discrepancy between crisis management and conflict prevention, emphasizing the lack of attention given to successful prevention efforts.
Antonio Guterres points out the irony in the global approach to conflicts, where significant time and resources are allocated to dealing with crises after they have escalated, rather than investing in strategies to prevent conflicts from arising in the first place. He notes that the media's focus on crises often overshadows the unsung successes of prevention, making it challenging for governments and international organizations to prioritize preventative measures. This disconnect leads to a reactive rather than proactive stance toward global conflicts.
Themes
ConflictPreventionCrisisResourcesInternational Community
In practice
Example use cases
During a conference on global security, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of investing in prevention instead of reactive measures.
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Syria has become the great tragedy of this century - a disgraceful humanitarian calamity with suffering and displacement unparalleled in recent history.
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