Press Releases

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today released US$100 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for severely underfunded aid operations in nine neglected emergencies. The funds will enable lifesaving help for millions of people forced from their homes in Central and Eastern Africa, those affected by conflict and food insecurity in Libya and Mali, and the most vulnerable and at risk of malnutrition in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

“I am allocating US$100 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to meet critical humanitarian needs in nine underfunded emergencies,” said the Secretary-General. “This funding is a lifeline for the world's most vulnerable people. It is a concrete demonstration of our shared commitment to leave no one behind.”

Some $64 million from the CERF allocation will allow humanitarian partners to respond to the displacement crises in Central and Eastern Africa caused by conflict and violence in South Sudan, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Urgently needed funds will help an estimated 1.7 million refugees, internally displaced people and host communities in Burundi ($13 million), Ethiopia ($11 million), Kenya ($4 million), Sudan ($7 million), Tanzania ($11 million), and Uganda ($18 million).

A further $28 million will help relief agencies address the humanitarian needs of up to 350,000 people affected by conflict and food insecurity in Libya ($12 million); and in Mali ($16 million), where an estimated 300,000 people will be assisted, especially in the North.

An allocation of $8 million will support urgent life-saving humanitarian assistance for more than 2.2 million vulnerable people in DPR Korea, including 1.8 million children who need urgent nutrition assistance.

“With so many crises competing for attention around the world many people in need are forgotten. These CERF grants will help sustain life-saving assistance and protection in emergencies where the needs of the most vulnerable communities are alarmingly high but the resources enabling us to respond remain low,” said the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien. “I thank our donors for their support to CERF so far in 2016. A strong and wellresourced CERF will help us focus on addressing the most critical needs.

United Nations humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien has allocated US$31 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support humanitarian partners in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region, where the humanitarian situation is worsening due to violence perpetrated by Boko Haram.

An estimated 2.7 million people, of whom 1.5 million are children, have been displaced in the region, making it the fastest growing displacement crisis in Africa. People affected by the ongoing crisis are in urgent need of food, drinking water, shelter, health care, protection and education.

CERF funding will provide life-saving assistance to almost 1.7 million affected people in the four countries. Some $10 million will bolster relief efforts in Nigeria, while humanitarian partners in Cameroon, Chad and Niger will receive $7 million each.

“Many people have lost everything. Hundreds of thousands of women and children continue to bear the brunt of the Boko Haram violence,” said the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien. “Saving lives and protecting people in the region is at the centre of the humanitarian response.”

Women and girls kidnapped by Boko Haram have been subjected to physical and psychological abuse, forced labour, forced marriage and sexual slavery. Boys have been forcibly enrolled as combatants. Humanitarian agencies will use CERF funds to support urgently needed protection assistance including prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence in the four countries.

In Nigeria, CERF funding will also be critical for providing emergency shelter, health care, safe drinking water and sanitation and nutrition for affected people currently living in overcrowded camps, in the North East of the country. In Cameroon, Chad and Niger, CERF support will allow for improved access to shelters, reproductive health care, safe drinking water and sanitation in camps for displaced, host communities and schools.

The affected region also suffers from chronic food insecurity, and under-development. The funds will also be used to provide food, supplementary feeding and nutritional support to people who face severe hunger as insecurity continues to have a negative impact on livelihoods, food security, and nutrition.

“Aid agencies in region have warned that living conditions for the affected people in the region are dire, giving rise to serious protection and health concerns”, Mr. O’Brien said. “The $31 million CERF allocation will provide a much-needed injection of funds for partners to provide for the most basic life sustaining needs in the Lake Chad region.”

The UN’s global humanitarian fund provides immediate funding for life-saving humanitarian action at the onset of emergencies and for neglected crises that have not attracted sufficient funding. Since its inception in 2006, 125 UN Member States and Observers, private-sector donors and regional governments have supported the Fund. To-date, CERF has allocated almost $4.2 billion in support of humanitarian operations in 94 countries and territories.

The Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC), Mr. Stephen O’Brien, has approved the allocation of US$ 7 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support humanitarian assistance in the Lac region of Chad.

Prevailing violence and the socio-economic impact of insecurity in this area have incited over 50,000 Chadians to flee the islands of Lake Chad between July and December 2015, to find refuge in dozens of displaced people’s sites, villages and districts, in the prefectures of Baga-Sola, Bol, Daboua, Kangalom and Liwa. In addition, there are some 15,000 Chadian returnees from Nigeria, 14,000 Nigerian refugees and over 700 third country nationals. Displacements have also affected vulnerable host communities, among whom 112,000 people are in need of assistance.

In response to this situation, Mr. Stephen Tull, Humanitarian Coordinator in Chad, declared: “Our priority through this CERF funding, is to bring life-saving assistance to the people mostly affected by this crisis: displaced persons, refugees, and vulnerable host populations, whose livelihood activities– fishing, agriculture, and pastoralism – are limited by insecurity”.

According to Florent Méhaule, Head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Chad, “This funding is crucial, because in spite of all the efforts made by humanitarian actors since the beginning of the year 2015, the situation remains of deep concern. The humanitarian response faces several challenges, including difficulties in accessing the populations in need due to insecurity, as well as a lack of resources”.

The 9 projects approved by the CERF will be implemented in the next six months by United Nations Agencies in partnership with NGOs and State services. These projects will provide emergency assistance in food aid, nutrition, protection, health, and education. The funds will be managed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The situation remains very dynamic in the Lac region, where more than 16,000 newly displaced people, which are not covered by this CERF allocation, have been identified in the western area, in relation with the latest military operations. “CERF is the main donor for this crisis. Considering the severity of the situation, this funding alone will not cover all needs. Broader donor mobilization is essential in order to respond to most urgent needs and also – in medium and long term – to support the development of this region, including access to basic services and the strengthening of livelihoods”, warned Mr. Tull.

Ten years ago, Member States of the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution, A/RES/60/124 and created the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Established in 2005, CERF marked an innovative breakthrough in humanitarian funding as a “fund for all, by all.” It raises and pools funds before the need arises, and provides fast, predictable funding to partners on the frontlines at the onset of a crisis, as well as financing to critically underfunded emergencies.

In commemoration of a decade of life-saving work, CERF hosted a High-Level panel discussion and annual pledging conference for 2016 today that was opened by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and chaired by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien. A tenth anniversary report was also launched, The World Helping the World, which reviews the Fund’s successes, and identifies strategic directions for CERF in the future to continue saving lives together.

Each year, through CERF-funded partners, 20 million people receive healthcare, 10 million people receive nourishing food, eight million people receive clean water and sanitation, and one million people receive life-saving shelter.

“The mission of CERF is as relevant as ever, but will require strengthened political and financial backing as it continues to innovate and become an even more robust instrument for good,” said the Secretary-General. “Over the past decade, the Fund has been an essential component of our humanitarian response – and it has enhanced the credibility of the United Nations.”

Donors today pledged almost US$252 million to the CERF at the annual High-Level conference to support critical, life-saving humanitarian operations in 2016. Political commitment remains strong for CERF in spite of growing needs that dwarf the financial resources allocated. The vote of confidence in CERF as an effective humanitarian tool is evidenced in Germany’s multi-year commitment and doubling of their pledge for 2016, and increases in commitments from Ireland, Luxembourg, Sweden and the Regional Government of Flanders.

Further announcements of contributions from some of the CERF’s top donors, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and Japan are expected in early 2016 when budget processes are expected to conclude.

“Today’s emergencies are often large, complex and long-lasting. CERF's life-saving work has never been more challenging, or more crucial,” noted USG O’Brien. “Building on its proven track record, CERF is adapting to emerging challenges so that it remains fit for purpose and fit for the future.”

The Secretary-General has convened a High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing and called for the World Humanitarian Summit in May next year to find solutions towards secure, adequate and predictable resources for people in crisis. As a proven and vital investment tool for the UN’s humanitarian response, Member States and Observers called for the inclusion of CERF in these discussions.

“As we wait for the outcomes of these processes, the CERF remains well placed to help address some of the key challenges,” said Mr. Ban. “A strong United Nations requires a strong CERF.”

Since 2006, 125 Member States and Observers, as well as regional authorities, foundations, private and individual donors have supported CERF, contributing more than US$ 4.1 billion that have supported hundreds of millions of people affected by natural disasters, conflicts and complex emergencies in 94 countries and territories around the world.

United Nations humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien today released US$17 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support people affected by the worst drought in Ethiopia in decades. UN and partners are supporting the ongoing response led by the Government of Ethiopia.

The El Niño global climactic event has wreaked havoc on Ethiopia’s summer rains. This comes on the heels of failed spring rains, and has driven food insecurity, malnutrition and water shortages in affected areas of the country.

“A timely response to the emergency is critical. If we don’t act today, we face an even graver situation tomorrow, with more immense needs in 2016,” warned the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. “CERF funds will immediately provide crucial food supplies for people affected by the drought, now, when they need it most.”

The emergency funding will be provided to the World Food Programme so it can support some 1.37 million Ethiopians with food, and provide specialized nutritional supplements to 164,000 malnourished women and children.

The Government reports that 8.2 million people now require emergency food assistance, up from 2.9 million in early 2015. The number of people who need food assistance in East Africa is forecast to increase to over 22 million at the start of next year, including 15 million in Ethiopia.

By the end of the year, the UN’s global emergency fund will have provided over $80 million in response to humanitarian needs because of climate-related events linked to El Niño. Since July alone some $76 million has been disbursed to agencies to carry out essential aid activities in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Malawi, Myanmar, Somalia and Zimbabwe.

CERF pools donor contributions in a single fund so that money is available to start or continue urgent relief work anywhere in the world. Since its inception in 2006, 125 UN Member States and dozens of private-sector donors and regional Governments have contributed to the Fund. CERF has allocated more than $4 billion in support of humanitarian operations in 95 countries and territories.