The 8th Pan African Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent officially kicked off on Saturday to deliberate on humanitarian issues in Africa for the coming three days in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

With the theme "Investing in Africa," the conference has brought together hundreds of Red Cross and Red Crescent leaders from 53 African countries to discuss the humanitarian and development challenges facing the continent.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Daniel Tegenu, president of the Ethiopian Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (ERCS), said the discussions at the conference would help populations vulnerable to calamities, food insecurity, health challenges and consequences of climate change.

The president also noted that the ERCS has been playing its unique auxiliary role to the government and people of Ethiopia in reducing human sufferings and contributing to the country's development over the last 77 years.

Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC), noted on his part that the conference provides him first opportunity to address so many partners in the movement after assuming office in July.

Stating that the operation of the ICRC in Africa accounts over 40 percent of its operation in 2012, the president said Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Mali and Niger are among African countries for the biggest operations of the ICRC this year.

Tadateru Konoe, president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, stressed partnerships and the need to expand work.

The president said fund-raising and resource mobilization are important in building resilient organizations.

"We must invest in partnerships both inside and outside the Movement. Because of our auxiliary role, solid relations with Government are vital if we are to continue to perform well and expand the work we do," he said.

"I hope that African National Societies will work closely with parliamentarians, together bringing the Red Cross Red Crescent to governments across party lines in accordance with our non- political nature, to help them to understand why we are different, and encourage them to make full use of our unique status and experience," said the president.

Declaring the official opening of the conference, Hailemariam Desalegn, Ethiopian prime minister, said Ethiopia supports Red Cross and Red Crescent priorities which are closely tied to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The premier highlighted partnership in addressing humanitarian and development challenges in Africa.

"Broad partnership between governments, civic society and the private is needed to tackle humanitarian challenges without which development will become impossibility. These partnerships are critical to addressing Africa's most urgent development challenges, " he said. Endi

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