SECRETARY-GENERAL HONOURED TO ACCEPT QATAR’S CONTRIBUTION TO MEET EMERGENCY NEEDS

OF CIVILIANS IN GAZA, INCLUDING ITS PLEDGE TO CENTRAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General is honoured to accept the generous sum of $40 million as a contribution from the Emir of Qatar to United Nations humanitarian agencies for programmes to meet the emergency needs of civilians in Gaza.

The Secretary-General is particularly grateful to Qatar for allocating $10 million from the pledge to go to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).  CERF provides fast, reliable, equitable and targeted humanitarian assistance to emergencies around the world.  The contribution is especially welcome, as it comes at a time when global humanitarian needs are expected to grow in light of the interconnected challenges of the food crisis, the global financial crisis, climate change and intensifying armed conflicts.

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For information media • not an official record