The United States delivered remarks at the 2025 ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment in Geneva, Switzerland. Deputy Assistant Secretary Christian J. Ehrhardt represented the U.S., addressing the ongoing challenges in global humanitarian efforts.
Ehrhardt expressed concern over worsening statistics and called for renewed commitment from all nations to resolve prolonged crises. He emphasized, "The United States will continue our effort to bring an end to conflicts and we call on others to re-commit themselves as well."
He stressed the need for a fundamental reassessment of the humanitarian system, noting that "the UN exists for collective action – and collective action demands collective responsibility." Ehrhardt highlighted that the U.S. has borne a disproportionate share of humanitarian responsibilities and urged other donors to contribute more equitably.
Asserting the solvability of many man-made crises, he stated, "The scale and scope of man-made, unnecessary humanitarian disasters is unacceptable, and we call upon member states to do better." He also advocated for a more efficient humanitarian system by focusing on core mandates without fostering aid dependency.
Ehrhardt pointed out ongoing efforts by UN entities to streamline operations but criticized spending on DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) initiatives and climate change measures as wasteful. He concluded by urging continued reforms and substantial crisis resolution efforts to avoid returning with little progress in future forums.