Daniel Craig speaks out against landmines at humanitarian summit

Record ID: 102481

  • Title: Daniel Craig speaks out against landmines at humanitarian summit
  • Date: 23rd May 2016
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (MAY 23, 2016) (HOST BROADCASTER POOL) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** WIDE OF SHOW (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, DANIEL CRAIG, SAYING OVER WIDE OF SHOW: "War continues to rage in far too many countries. It is imperative not to forget that unprecedented numbers of unexploded ordinance, mines and IED's will continue to litter many urban and rural areas long after any peace is brokered. The human consequences are sadly readily apparent. Every year landmines kill 15 to 20000 people. Most of them children, women and the elderly, while countless more are severely injured, often losing their limbs, their eyesight or both. This means an expertly trained demining operation is absolutely essential. The brave work of fearless and selfless people like Mr Ateeq can pretty much guarantee that the road back to a normal, peaceful existence for the victims of war can be a safe one. Cities can becomes cities again, land may be ploughed to plant crops, schools reopened, hospitals and transport systems can go back to doing what they do best - getting people to work, delivering newborn babies. This summit is about potential, the potential to start the biggest humanitarian movement in history. But potential is an empty word without action. This summit has the chance to set the first crucial steps to setting the foundation for sustainable peace, development and reconstruction. Here in Istanbul we must not only integrate minor action into the world's humanitarian agenda, we must today to commit to invest in what binds us all together, our common humanity." WIDE OF AUDIENCE APPLAUDING AUDIENCE
  • Embargoed: 7th June 2016 10:34
  • Keywords: Daniel Craig James Bond film movie humanitarian award show summit Turkey Istanbul
  • Location: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
  • City: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Celebrities,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014J139L9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: James Bond star Daniel Craig appeared at the World Humanitarian Summit in Turkey on Monday (May 23) to speak out against landmines.
    Craig spoke before business leaders, aid groups and donors in Istanbul for the world's first humanitarian summit and called on government to do more to clear landmines.
    "War continues to rage in far too many countries. It is imperative not to forget that unprecedented numbers of unexploded ordinance, mines and IED's will continue to litter many urban and rural areas long after any peace is brokered. The human consequences are sadly readily apparent. Every year landmines kill 15 to 20000 people. Most of them children, women and the elderly, while countless more are severely injured, often losing their limbs, their eyesight or both. This means an expertly trained demining operation is absolutely essential," said Craig.
    The summit is an attempt to develop a more coherent response to what the U.N. chief ban Ki-moon has called the worst global humanitarian situation since World War Two.
    The United Nations estimates that more than 130 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and that less than 20 percent of the $20 billion needed to fund that is covered.
    The summit - billed as the first of its kind bringing together governments, civil society and the private sector - aims to mobilise funds and get world leaders to agree on issues from better managing displaced civilians to renewing commitments to international humanitarian law.
    U.N. second-in-command Jan Eliasson said on Sunday (May 22) it was necessary to stand up for international humanitarian law which was being disregarded, citing attacks on hospitals and "practically medieval" sieges on civilians in Syria and Yemen.
    Eliasson said that there were many signs the Geneva convention on human rights was being neglected.
    Some 6,000 participants from 150 U.N. member states are taking part in the summit including 57 heads of state or government. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the only G7 leader attending the summit.
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