Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
- Central Emergency Response Fund
- Samoa
- Deputy Secretary-General's Travels
- Iraq
- Syria
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Niger
- Burundi
- South Sudan
- Human Development Report
- International Anti-Corruption Day
- Genocide
- Brazil
CENTRAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND
The Secretary-General this morning spoke at the high-level pledging conference for the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, otherwise known as the CERF, which he called the most effective investment that can be made in humanitarian action.
He noted that the pace of crises has been relentless in 2019, with CERF having supported people in 44 countries this year, from Yemen to Afghanistan to Colombia.
The Secretary-General said that CERF is the only global emergency fund that is fast, predictable and flexible enough to reach tens of millions of people each year. It also provides funding without the bureaucracy that can slow down our work, so the money is available within days, sometimes hours, of disaster striking.
He also said that the Fund has helped to sustain relief operations in long-running crises, and to avoid gaps in critical services for the most vulnerable people when funding levels are low.
The Secretary-General said he was grateful for the generosity of 127 Member States and Observers, as well as other donors, who have contributed to the CERF. In addition, 52 Member States that have received CERF funding have also contributed to the fund, making it truly a fund for all, by all.
The General Assembly has set a $1 billion yearly funding target for the CERF, and the Fund provided a record $200 million to 21 crises last year.
SAMOA
Related to the CERF, Mark Lowcock, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, has set aside some $2.6 million from the emergency Fund to support the response to the measles outbreak in Samoa and other countries in the Pacific.
The funds will be used for emergency vaccinations, obstetric and neonatal care for mothers and newborns infected with measles, mental health and psychosocial support, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene assistance for about 1.25 million people.
Full Highlights: [ Ссылка ]
