The UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has taken significant action by allocating $100 million to bolster relief efforts in seven critically underfunded countries spanning Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East, according to UN humanitarian officials.
The top priorities, as outlined by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), include the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sudan, and Syria, each receiving $20 million. This funding aims to address various crises, such as the ongoing conflict in the DRC, displacement due to conflict in Sudan, and the impact of hostilities on individuals in Syria.
Chad will receive $15 million to aid refugees and other vulnerable groups, while the remaining funds are earmarked for Niger ($10 million), Lebanon ($9 million), and Honduras ($6 million) to address their respective humanitarian needs.
“This allocation, though vital, is among the smallest in recent years for some of the world’s least-financed crises,” remarked OCHA. “It reflects reduced funding received by CERF in 2023, marking its lowest since 2018, and underscores the stark reality that donor funding is failing to meet escalating humanitarian needs.”
In 2023, the cost to support 250 million people affected by conflicts, natural disasters, disease, and other crises surged to a record high of $56.7 billion, yet less than 40 per cent of that funding was received, UN officials revealed.
Martin Griffiths, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, emphasized the importance of CERF’s role in providing life-saving humanitarian support amid immense needs and chronic underfunding. However, with donations at their lowest level in recent years, CERF’s impact is facing a serious challenge, Griffiths cautioned, highlighting the critical need for member states to provide full and timely funding.
OCHA projected that humanitarian needs will continue to escalate in 2024, emphasizing the critical nature of the CERF allocation in scaling up assistance and mobilizing further donor support for some of the world’s most protracted and neglected crises. The infusion of funds will also strengthen partnerships with local organizations and enhance accountability, OCHA noted.
