Overview of CERF Funding to Famine Prevention

Dita Anggraeni

Over 20 million people in north-east Nigeria, South Sudan, Yemen and Somalia are already at or over the tipping point of famine. Thanks to the generosity of its donors,CERF has released $93 million for early action and life-saving operations in Nigeria, Somalia and South Sudan. In north-east Nigeria, an allocation of $22 million is reaching an estimated 2.9 million people affected by Boko Haram related violence and food insecurity. In Somalia, CERF has allocated $33 million to help vulnerable people in severe drought areas in Puntland, Somaliland and South Central. FAO has also received a loan of $22 million to ensure a scale up of famine prevention. In addition, Yemen will shortly receive $25 million for famine prevention to focus on the provision of food, nutrition and health supplies, as well as necessary logistical and security support for all humanitarian partners. In South Sudan, CERF is allocating $16 million to support humanitarian action in locations where famine or elevated risk of famine has been declared - as well as urgent needs in areas of new and/or active conflict. With these allocations, CERF will be the fourth largest funding source for humanitarian operations in the four affected countries.1 Since 2006, CERF has enabled fast, flexible and time-critical assistance wherever, whenever crises hit.