Maputo, 20 Sep (AIM) – Because of the selfish behavior of the richest nations, the world is on the brink of a climate catastrophe, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi warned in New York on Tuesday.
Speaking at the General Assembly of the United Nations, Nyusi said that it is the countries that are responsible for most pollution who are continuing their carbon emissions which raise the temperature of the planet, and hence cause climate change. And those that suffer most from climate change are the poorest countries, which have made little contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
As reported in Wednesday’s issue of the independent newssheet “Mediafax”, Nyusi stressed that Mozambique’s location makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change, notably through repeated tropical cyclones which have caused a heavy burden in terms of loss of life and material damage.
Aid to repair the cyclone damage had been promised, but not delivered. “Mozambique has not been able to recover even a third of the damage caused by climatic events, because support from our partners has been way below what is needed and what was promised”, said Nyusi.
He had harsh words for those donors who waste money on talking shops rather than aiding those in need. “Instead of focusing directly on the concerns of the population, the donors spend more money on capacity building, conferences and bureaucratic questions, rather than providing direct support to those in need”, he denounced.
Turning to questions of peace and security, Nyusi said that dialogue between the Mozambican government and the main opposition party, the former rebel movement Renamo, had led to a cessation of hostilities, with the last Renamo military base being closed in June.
Currently, he added, the government is paying pensions to former Renamo guerrillas, even though this is not envisaged in Mozambican law.
But while one conflict had been brought to an end, Mozambique continued to face a wave of terrorist violence in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
Nyusi said his government is focused on fighting terrorism, with the support of Rwanda and of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Mozambique and its allies had been liberating areas from jihadist control, allowing displaced people to return to their areas of origin.
Most speakers at this General Assembly session condemned the Russian war against Ukraine, regarded as a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that, instead of ending the scourge of war, the world is witnessing a renewed wave of conflicts, military coups, and chaos.
He said that, if all UN member states complied with their obligations under the UN Charter, the right to peace would be guaranteed – but when member states violate those obligations, they create a world of insecurity for everyone.
US President Joe Biden called on all world leaders to face Russian aggression, and continue to support Ukraine. He believed Russia assumes that the world will tire of the conflict, thus allowing it to brutalise Ukraine without consequences.
Biden warned that, if the world allows Russia to carve up Ukraine, then the independence of other countries will be at risk.
(AIM)
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