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UN relief chief sets aside $100m in emergency funds
for food crisis
United Nations— The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator
has decided to reserve $100 million from the world body’s Central
Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to address immediate issues stemming
from the food crisis triggered by the recent surge in global food
prices.
John Holmes, who also serves as Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs, said that these funds will be used for
life-saving activities in the hardest-hit sectors, including food,
agriculture, health, nutrition and logistics.
“Since its inception in 2006, CERF has shown that it is a successful
humanitarian funding mechanism that ensures that aid is delivered in
an effective, fast and predictable way,” UN spokesperson Michele
Montas said Monday at a press briefing in New York.
Since the start of the year, the Fund which is managed by the UN
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), has
already earmarked nearly $66 million for food interventions by UN
agencies, compared to $37 million during the same period last year.
The CERF was approved by the General Assembly in December 2005, and
was created to speed up relief operations for emergencies, make
funds available quickly after a disaster and finance underfunded
emergencies. Its funds are also made available to address the
existing imbalance in global aid distribution which results in
millions of people in so-called neglected or forgotten crises
remaining in need. Since its inception, it has disbursed nearly $800
million.
“It is evident that CERF will need to be replenished”, Ms. Montas
said, “given the demands posed by food-related emergencies as well
as multiple crises and disasters around the world.”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Holmes are appealing to donors to
make additional contributions to the Fund, beyond the $425 million
already pledged for this year. —APP
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