Denmark aims to address forgotten crises as it prepares for UN Security Council role

Denmark aims to highlight the world’s forgotten crises as it prepares to join the UN Security Council at the beginning of the year. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized this commitment during her participation in the UN General Assembly in New York, expressing the need to address overlooked conflicts and the victims of these situations. She pointed to the humanitarian disasters in Sudan and Yemen as urgent matters requiring attention.

However, Jonas Nøddekær, General Secretary of the Danish Church’s Aid, has criticized the government’s budget proposal, which allocates 100 million kroner less for humanitarian efforts compared to previous years. He argues that there is a stark contrast between the Prime Minister’s expressed concern for forgotten conflicts and the reduction in humanitarian assistance. Nøddekær noted that humanitarian needs are rising, particularly in Syria, Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, and Lebanon, and highlighted that half of Sudan’s population currently requires humanitarian aid.

Denmark typically allocates 0.7% of its gross national income to overall development assistance, with a portion specifically for short-term humanitarian aid. Nøddekær believes that due to Denmark’s expected growth in the economy next year and its new role on the UN Security Council, it is an appropriate time to increase funding for humanitarian efforts.

The opposition party, Venstre, acknowledged the budget cuts but insists that Denmark remains one of the top contributors to humanitarian assistance. Michael Aastrup Jensen, the party’s foreign affairs spokesperson, indicated that priorities might shift in response to changing global conditions, expressing openness to increasing funding for humanitarian aid, especially in Africa.

The Prime Minister’s office referred inquiries to the Social Democrats, who did not provide any comments.