UN EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR URGES DONORS TO PROVIDE

 

CASH URGENTLY FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORTS

 

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 11 January (OCHA) -- Jan Egeland, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, speaking today at a meeting in Geneva on humanitarian assistance to tsunami-affected communities, stressed the importance that donors provide the United Nations with cash urgently so that relief efforts can continue.

“At first glance, it would seem that the generous pledges more than meet the flash appeal requirements.  In reality, however, we do not yet have the cash in hand required to meet even the most urgent needs”, said Mr. Egeland.  He provided an update on contributions pledged and received, activities undertaken, and remaining key challenges.  More than 300 participants and about 30 ministers attended the meeting.

“We are in a race against time, and we need cash now if we are going to provide assistance to all in need during the next six months”, he added.  The flash appeal amounts to $977 million, of which only $300 million has been committed.

Although the relief effort is making extraordinary progress, there could still be a second wave of disease and death if aid does not immediately reach all in need before preventable epidemics break out, Mr. Egeland said.  He also acknowledged the enormous efforts of local and national authorities, relief agencies and donor countries.

“I hope we can extend this same generosity to others outside the media spotlight, who also desperately need our help.  This morning we reviewed pledges towards 14 consolidated appeals, and the work plan for Sudan for which more than $3 billion needed to help some 30 million people”, Mr. Egeland said.

He added that in the Democratic Republic of Congo, due to effects of war and neglect, an equivalent of a tsunami death toll has been reached every few months for many years.

“In this context our appeal as aid workers is simple:  the billions pledged to the tsunami response should be additional to the funds urgently needed for other emergencies in Africa and elsewhere”, said Mr. Egeland.

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