AT ONE YEAR, $376 MILLION PROVIDED BY EMERGENCY FUND

 

NEW YORK, 9 March (OCHA) -- In the year since its official launch on 9 March 2006, $376.1 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has been used to provide life-saving humanitarian aid in 40 countries through 361 individual projects. 

“I welcome all that the CERF has accomplished in the past year, and look forward to consolidating and furthering this progress as the Fund continues to evolve,” said John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.  “While the generosity shown by donors has been impressive, I hope to see more countries, organizations and individuals joining us in partnership to support this unique, life-saving fund, which aspires to be from everyone and for everyone.”

Of the total funds disbursed in the past year, $214.2 million was disbursed within the rapid response window, while $161.9 million went to underfunded crises.  Donor support for the CERF has also been strong: since its establishment, 73 partners -- including Member States, local government, non-governmental organizations and the private sector -- have deposited $399.4 million with the CERF.

Expressing his support for the work of the CERF, James Morris, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) -- the largest recipient agency of CERF funds during the first year -- said: “WFP often struggles with breaks in the food pipeline for its beneficiaries, sometimes in genuinely difficult environments like Darfur.  We always welcome new avenues to receive support and appreciate donations through the CERF.  We are working with our partners in OCHA to make the CERF as responsive and effective as possible.”

While many CERF grants in 2006 went to humanitarian crises where civilians are caught up in armed conflict, the majority of the funds were used to respond to natural disasters.  Afghanistan, for example, received $32.3 million to respond to needs arising from the drought and the security situation, and Kenya received $27.1 million to address drought, the influx of Somali refugees and flooding.  The Democratic Republic of Congo received $38 million for malaria control and cholera response in conflict-affected areas, as well as mine action activities and protection for returning refugees and internally displaced persons.  The Sudan received $35.5 million to meet needs in Darfur arising from the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation and to provide time-critical common services.

Moreover, since the CERF’s establishment, the provision of financial assistance has accelerated tremendously.  For instance, approval of start-up funding for aid programmes in rapid onset emergencies -- such as the armed conflicts in Lebanon and Timor-Leste -- came within 72 hours.  This speed enabled United Nations agencies to assist people immediately by drawing against their reserves.

Early funding delays in some cases, as policies were being worked out, have been addressed.  In 2007, the CERF will seek to support the wider humanitarian reform by continuing to broaden its partnerships through inter-agency collaboration and expanding its donor base, provide equitable balance to neglected emergencies and support coordination under the leadership of resident/humanitarian coordinators.  At all levels, non-governmental organizations must be enabled to benefit more from the Fund.  The 2007 internal evaluation of the CERF also aims to improve the functioning of the Fund.  Finally, training on CERF procedures will continue in 2007 for both United Nations agencies and non-governmental organization partners.

For further information, please call Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570.  OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.

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For information media • not an official record