25 January, 2016

Dear Sir/Madam,
In May 2016, the World Humanitarian Summit, an initiative of the United Nations
Secretary-General, will host a global discussion on humanitarian action to find better
ways to meet the needs of people in the face of conflict and disaster. One particular area
of focus is how an urbanizing world is affecting how we prepare for and respond to
emergencies.
In advance of this historic event, the UN is convening policy makers,
philanthropists, and influences for a discussion entitled City Haven: People on the
Move/Harboring the Displaced on the 18th of February 2016 (15.00 17.00) at the
United Nations Headquarters in New York.
People displaced by disaster or conflict, increasingly seek a safe haven and a new
life in cities. Images of large scale refugee camps still dominate the public image. Mayors
all over the world have stepped up to the challenge.
The panel consists of David Miliband, President and CEO of the International
Rescue Committee; Aisa Kacyira, Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat; and Daniel
Zarrilli, Director for Resilience in the Office of the Mayor of New York; and will be
moderated by Miriam Elder, Foreign Editor of Buzzfeed.
The event is being organized in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of the
United Kingdom to the United Nations and UN-Habitat, with additional support from the
International Rescue Committee.
We look forward to your participation and your contributions.
Please RSVP through Eventbrite at: bit.ly/City_Haven.

Yours sincerely,

Antoine Gerard
Chief, World Humanitarian Summit secretariat
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

11th floor, 304 East 45th Street, New York, NY 10017

www.worldhumanitariansummit.org