UN provides $427-M aid for emergencies

Manila, Philippines -  The United Nations humanitarian office has provided more than $427 million last year to assist countries, including the Philippines, that suffered from emergencies such as drought, floods, and food insecurity.

The 2011 Annual Report of the Central Emergency Response Fund highlights the contributions of the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to humanitarian partners in 45 countries.

Financed by voluntary contributions from member-states, non-governmental organizations, local governments, the private sector and individual donors, the CERF is a humanitarian fund established by the UN to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts.

Climate-related emergencies due to drought, floods and storms received more than $149 million from CERF last year, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which helps administer the fund.

CERF also gave more than $128 million to the Horn of Africa for people affected by drought and food insecurity, and provided needed money to help humanitarian partners intervene early in the Africa’s Sahel region to help people affected by drought-related hunger in Niger, Chad and Mauritania.

The World Food Program (WFP) remained CERF’s top-funded agency, and was given $127 million – almost 30 per cent of all CERF funds – due to its role in providing emergency food aid.