UN has released $100 million to support 10 humanitarian crises

GENEVA: The United Nations (UN) has released $100 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support critical humanitarian crises needs in 10 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East. This funding aims to address emergencies that have been severely underfunded, according to a press release from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, emphasized that many humanitarian crises lack the necessary funding to provide life-saving aid, which is deeply concerning. She explained that CERF acts as a last-resort emergency fund to prevent the worst outcomes when other funding falls short. Msuya urged for greater and more consistent donor support to address these underfunded crises.

A significant portion of the $100 million will go towards aid operations in Yemen ($20 million) and Ethiopia ($15 million), where people are facing severe challenges such as hunger, displacement, diseases, and climate-related disasters. Other countries set to receive support include Myanmar ($12 million), Mali ($11 million), Burkina Faso ($10 million), Haiti ($9 million), Cameroon ($7 million), and Mozambique ($7 million). Additionally, Burundi ($5 million) and Malawi ($4 million) will receive funding to tackle issues caused by El Niño-related droughts and floods.

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This is the second time CERF has allocated funds for underfunded emergencies this year, following a $100 million release in February. Despite these efforts, the total $200 million allocated this year is the lowest in the past three years, highlighting the widening gap between growing humanitarian needs and the funding available. The global humanitarian community is currently seeking $49 billion to assist 187 million vulnerable people, but only 29% of this target has been met, leaving a $35 billion shortfall.