OPENING STATEMENT WORKNEH GEBEYEHU, IGAD EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

OPENING STATEMENT WORKNEH GEBEYEHU, IGAD EXECUTIVE SECRETARY IGAD COP28 High-Level Presidential Event on Climate, Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa Monday, 4th December 2023 • Your Excellency Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti and Chairperson of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government; • Our guest of Honour and Gracious Host Excellency Sheikh Shakhbout Nay. [...] Sarah Montgomery, UK Special Envoy for the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa • Distinguished Guests; • Ladies and Gentlemen; Card 1 of 4 IGAD ES Statement | IGAD COP28 High-Level Presidential Event Good afternoon, It is a profound honour for me, as the Executive Secretary of IGAD, to extend a special welcome you all and extend warm and heartfelt greetings to each of us gathered here for this pivotal. [...] At the outset, allow me to express my gratitude for the impactful decisions made early in this conference, particularly the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund, a beacon of hope for the world's most vulnerable countries including in the IGAD region grappling with the devastating impacts of climate disasters. [...] At the same time, allow me to also voice our concern as the Countries of the Greater Horn of Africa, that this significant commitment to address the immediate impacts of climate change should not be taken as a substitute for existing pledges and obligations to tackle the indirect effects of climate change particularly climate-related conflict and development programming. [...] It is vital that proportional resources are earmarked and directed towards the restoration and maintenance of peace and security if the intended benefits of the loss and damage fund are to fully accrue to our communities that are most vulnerable to climate change and conflict, particularly in the borderlands.