United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) Martin Griffiths on Tuesday released US$100 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support underfunded humanitarian emergencies in seven countries in Africa, the Americas and the Middle East. The crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sudan and Syria top the list, receiving $20 million each.
“The new emergency infusion of funds will help sustain life-saving humanitarian support to people facing the world’s worst crises. It is a reminder of CERF’s crucial role at a time of immense needs and chronic underfunding of humanitarian appeals,” said Emergency Relief Coordinator Griffiths.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the new allocation is among the smallest in recent years for the world’s least-financed crises, reflecting the dire reality that donor funding is failing to keep up with soaring humanitarian needs.
CERF who has an annual funding target of $1 billion received reduced funding in 2023, its lowest since 2018.
“Yet with donations at their lowest level in recent years, CERF's life-saving impact is itself facing a serious challenge. It’s now more critical than ever that Member States provide full and timely funding to CERF”, Griffiths said
Overall, in 2023 - to support 250 million people affected by conflicts, natural disasters, diseases and other crises - global funding requirements surged to $56.7 billion – a record high. But less than 40 percent of that funding was received, leaving the most vulnerable people to bear the brunt.
With humanitarian needs expected to continue to soar in 2024, this latest CERF allocation is critical to scale up assistance for and spur further donor support for some of the world’s most protracted and neglected crises, OCHA said in a statement. The new funding will also be a boost to partnerships with local organizations and an increase in accountability.
The funds will address large-scale displacement caused by the ongoing conflict in Sudan ($20 million), while in DRC ($20 million) the money will help people affected by continued fighting in the east. In Syria ($20 million), the resources will help people affected by fighting, and the funding in Chad ($15 million) will support refugees and others. Funding will also go to Niger ($10 million), Lebanon ($9 million) and Honduras ($6 million).
The Central Emergency Response Fund, created by the UN General Assembly in 2005, is one of the fastest funding instruments available to help people affected by emergencies. Managed by OCHA, the fund enables timely, effective and life-saving humanitarian action by UN agencies and others to kick-start or reinforce crisis response anywhere it is required.
CERF is designed to complement, not replace, existing funding mechanisms for humanitarian assistance. Funding decisions for underfunded emergencies are based on detailed analysis of more than 90 humanitarian indicators and wide consultation with stakeholders.
The Fund releases resources for underfunded emergencies twice a year. The previous allocation took place in September 2023, with $125 million earmarked for underfunded humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Haiti, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, the occupied Palestinian territory, Uganda, Venezuela and Yemen.
The Central Emergency Response Fund is funded primarily by UN member states. However, CERF also accepts donations from corporations, foundations and individuals.
Further information
Full text: UN allocates US$100 million to boost poorly funded humanitarian crises, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, press release, published February 20, 2024
https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/un-allocates-us100-million-boost-poorly-funded-humanitarian-crises
Website: United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
https://cerf.un.org/
Donate now to the Central Emergency Response Fund
https://cerf.un.org/donate
https://crisisrelief.un.org/t/cerf
See also
DONARE Articles: Why I donate to CERF