By Meryem Goktas and Seyit Ahmet Aytac
ANTALYA, Turkey
The Turkish Red Crescent Society head on Sunday criticized the hierarchy of the UN Security Council where only five countries have veto powers.
"Today the world system and security policies are determined by -- a minority -- the Security Council," Kerem Kinik told a joint press briefing of the Red Cross Red Crescent statutory meetings held from Nov 5-11 in Antalya.
"This system has to change… [It] needs to be reconsidered with a humanistic approach," he said.
He lamented the growing attacks on aid workers.
“Aid workers who are part of peacekeeping projects need to be protected,” he said.
“Therefore the voice our movement raises today is the voice of humanity. It is a voice to increase the security of people affected by conflicts,” he added.
Elhadj As Sy, secretary-general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said his organization provides health facilities in 190 countries, without any discrimination based on nationality, race, class or religion.
Responding to a question about an alleged $6 million corruption charge in the fight against the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone and Liberia, he said the organization is investigating the issue.
"Everybody who has done wrong will be held accountable, even if they are staff members of the IFRC," he said.
Balthasar Staehelin, deputy director-general of the International Committee of Red Cross, said it has problems in accessing conflict areas in Syria and Myanmar.
"When we do aid work, our main goal is to solve those problems with principles," Staehelin said, adding that his organization does not support the powerful but the oppressed.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies was founded in 1919 to alleviate human suffering in the world.
