UN Releases $100 Million To Boost Response To 10 Humanitarian Crises

The United Nations (UN) has allocated US$100 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to address severe underfunding in humanitarian emergencies across 10 countries. This initiative, managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), aims to provide critical support in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East.

More than one-third of this new funding will be directed towards Yemen and Ethiopia. Yemen will receive $20 million, while Ethiopia will get $15 million. Both nations are struggling with hunger, displacement, diseases, and climate-related disasters.

Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, highlighted the urgency of this funding. "In far too many humanitarian emergencies, a lack of funding prevents aid agencies from reaching people who need life-saving assistance, and that is heart-wrenching," she said. "CERF funding is an emergency cash injection of last resort to avert the worst and save lives when other humanitarian funding is inadequate. We urgently need increased and sustained donor attention to these underfunded crises."

The new funding package also targets countries suffering from prolonged conflict and displacement exacerbated by climate shocks. Myanmar will receive $12 million, Mali $11 million, Burkina Faso $10 million, Haiti $9 million, Cameroon $7 million, and Mozambique $7 million.

This year marks CERF’s second allocation for underfunded emergencies. In February, CERF released another $100 million for seven countries. Despite these efforts, the total $200 million allocated this year is the lowest in three years. This highlights a growing gap between humanitarian needs and available donor funds.

El Niño-Induced Crises

Countries affected by El Niño-induced droughts and floods are also included in this funding round. Burundi will receive $5 million and Malawi $4 million to help mitigate the impacts of these climate events.

The humanitarian community is seeking approximately $49 billion this year to assist 187 million vulnerable individuals worldwide. However, only 29 percent of this target has been met so far, leaving a significant shortfall of $35 billion.

This allocation underscores the urgent need for sustained donor contributions to bridge the widening gap between escalating humanitarian needs and available resources.

With inputs from WAM