Amid crushing global humanitarian needs and as hunger, disease and displacement continue to drive humanitarian disasters around the world, top United Nations officials on Wednesday underscored how the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) serves as a lifeline in urgent and underfunded crises. At the Fund’s annual pledging event, forty donors have announced contributions of more than US$419 million for CERF for 2024.
“CERF makes a difference. And I have personally seen that difference,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, addressing the High-Level Pledging Event.
“I urge donors to continue stepping forward for this vital fund. CERF provides support and hope when people need it most.”
CERF is the short name of the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund. The Fund is one of the fastest ways to get urgent aid to the world's most vulnerable people whenever and wherever crises hit.
On Wednesday, 40 donors pledged contributions of more than US$419 million for CERF for the coming year, exceeding the $409 million pledged at last year’s event. Additional funding is anticipated during 2024, with several donors announcing that pledges are forthcoming.
Guterres said that, year after year, the Response Fund demonstrates its unique and irreplaceable role by getting funding quickly to people in crisis.
“Donors can be confident that their funds are going where they are most needed. Because CERF prioritizes people who are likely to be marginalized and left behind: women and girls, people with disabilities, older people,” he said.
CERF rapid response funds help UN agencies and their partners respond quickly to new humanitarian needs. CERF’s funds for underfunded emergencies helps scale-up and sustain protracted relief operations to avoid critical gaps when no other funding is available.
For example, in April, when conflict erupted in Sudan, CERF made funding available to help millions of people caught up in the brutal fighting and forced from their homes, both inside Sudan and across borders. In October, CERF quickly channeled funds to UN humanitarian agencies in Gaza as they struggled to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of people impacted by the conflict.
CERF’s rapid response included swiftly responding to the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Immediately after the earthquakes struck, CERF allocated $50 million to support urgent relief efforts, a lifeline to thousands of people
Beyond the immediate crises, the Central Emergency Response Fund funding is also helping to counter long-term trends, from resurgent food insecurity and the humanitarian impact of the climate crisis.
“In 2023, CERF funding helped to prevent sharp spikes in food insecurity in 28 countries, reducing the risk of famine in several of them,” Guterres said.
To address rising hunger this year, CERF helped to combat food insecurity and the risk of famine. In February, CERF preemptively allocated $104 million to avert the risk of famine in eight high-risk countries, including the countries of the Horn of Africa struggling with a record-breaking five-year drought. In total, CERF allocated $119 million to support 60 food security projects in 28 countries in 2023.
More than US$270 million was released to bridge funding gaps and bolster humanitarian operations across 26 countries with underfunded emergencies.
"And in 2023, CERF once again supported people in forgotten crises that go under the radar, from Haiti to Burkina Faso and Yemen," Guterres said.
So far this year, CERF has allocated overall more than $640 million to support millions of people who need urgent assistance in some 40 countries and territories.
“Since its inception in 2006, around one-quarter of CERF allocations have gone towards responding to climate-related disasters. This year, the proportion increased to one-third – but we must still be able to do more,” the Secretary-General said.
A new CERF climate action account has just be announced at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, enabling donors to channel additional financing directly to address the risks and impacts of climate-related disasters.
Guterres called for more donors to step up and expand the donor base. He also called for financial commitments that match the scale of needs, reiterating that donors need to meet the $1 billion dollar funding target agreed seven years ago, which unfortunately has never been reached until now.
As of December 7, just US$539 million had been received for 2023. Germany is the largest donor for the Fund this year, with a contribution of some US$106.5 million.
“This year, once again, CERF has proven that it is truly the ‘for all, by all’ Fund, as envisaged by the General Assembly when [the Fund] was created back in 2006,” said UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, who administers the Fund on behalf of the Secretary-General.
“It needs to continue to play such a critical role, if it is fully funded.”
Humanitarian needs have risen to all-time highs in recent years. As of November, the United Nations estimates that a record 365 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection. Since CERF was established, global funding needs through humanitarian appeals have increased tenfold – from $5.2 billion in 2006 to nearly $57 billion in 2023.
CERF, established by the UN General Assembly in 2005 as the UN global emergency response fund, is primarily funded by member states. But it also accepts donations from corporations, foundations and individuals. The Central Emergency Response Fund is designed to complement, not replace, existing funding mechanisms for humanitarian assistance.
Contributions to CERF will help to save lives and reach the millions of people trapped in disasters and conflict. The Central Emergency Response Fund is managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Further information
Full text: UN Secretary-General's remarks at the High-Level Event for the Central Emergency Response Fund, UN Secretary-General, statement, delivered December 6, 2023
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2023-12-06/un-secretary-generals-remarks-the-high-level-event-for-the-central-emergency-response-fund
Full text: UN relief chief urges donors to step up support for emergency fund, CERF, Martin Griffiths, Remarks at Central Emergency Response Fund High-Level Pledging Event for 2024, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), delivered December 6, 2023
https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-urges-donors-step-support-emergency-fund-cerf
Website: United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
https://cerf.un.org/
Donate to CERF now
https://cerf.un.org/donate
https://crisisrelief.un.org/t/cerf