President Higgins: We have duty to end poverty and violence

President Michael D Higgins has urged the country to call for policies that will bring an end to “poverty and violence” worldwide just a day after the picture of a war-ravaged five-year-old Syrian boy caused condemnation across the globe.

In a statement to mark World Humanitarian Day yesterday, Mr Higgins said Ireland’s citizens and politicians have a responsibility to highlight the need for “international co-operation” in tackling a series of worldwide issues.

The President said it is right that the United Nations has given an entire day to honour aid workers who are based in a string of war-torn countries, and to remember the 2003 bombing of 22 UN aid workers in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.