UN emergency fund provides $40 million for 16 global crises

The top United Nations humanitarian official today announced a grant of $40 million from the world body’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to provide life-saving support in 16 so-called forgotten crises around the world.

“These grants will provide vital funding for people caught up in some of the world’s most neglected humanitarian crises,” said John Holmes, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and manager of the CERF. “By filling gaps in the international response we aim to ensure that assistance will reach those most in need.”

The largest recipients of the new funds will be the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the occupied Palestinian territory, Ethiopia, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire and the Central African Republic (CAR).

The countries selected for grants face severe ongoing emergencies, against a backdrop of protracted humanitarian needs and low levels of funding, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

This is the fourth such disbursement since the launch of the landmark fund in March 2006. Managed by OCHA, it aims to speed up relief operations for humanitarian emergencies and make funds available quickly after a disaster, when people are most at risk.

CERF funding for aid programmes is made available within 72 hours in emergencies, allowing UN agencies on the ground to provide immediate assistance.

To date, the Fund has provided $125 million for humanitarian emergencies.