Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2020 shows the outside view of the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)
So far this year, CERF has allocated more than 640 million dollars in some 40 countries and territories. This included funds to kick-start urgent humanitarian operations in Gaza and Sudan and to quickly respond to the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, said OCHA.
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Some 40 donors on Wednesday announced contributions of more than 419 million U.S. dollars for the UN emergency response fund for 2024, said the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The money raised at a high-level pledging event for the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) is slightly higher than the 409 million dollars pledged at last year's event.
Additional funding is anticipated during 2024, with several donors announcing on Wednesday that pledges are forthcoming, said OCHA.
"CERF makes a difference. And I have personally seen that difference," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the event. "I urge donors to continue stepping forward for this vital fund. CERF provides support and hope when people need it most."
So far this year, CERF has allocated more than 640 million dollars in some 40 countries and territories. This included funds to kick-start urgent humanitarian operations in Gaza and Sudan and to quickly respond to the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, said OCHA.
"This year, once again, CERF has proven that it is truly the 'for all, by all' fund," said UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths at the pledging event. "It needs to continue to play such a critical role, if it is fully funded."
Since CERF was established in 2006, global funding needs through humanitarian appeals have increased tenfold -- from 5.2 billion dollars to nearly 57 billion dollars in 2023. To date, the fund, which has an annual funding target of 1 billion dollars, has helped hundreds of millions of people with nearly 9 billion dollars in more than 110 countries and territories, according to OCHA. ■
