UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths has authorized the release of $100 million from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to address the urgent needs of humanitarian crises in seven countries in Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Syria are among the prioritized nations, each receiving $20 million, the organization said. The funds will also be sent to Chad and Niger.
"The funds will address large-scale displacement caused by the ongoing conflict in Sudan ($20 million), while in DRC ($20 million) they will help people affected by continued fighting in the east. In Syria ($20 million), the resources will help people affected by fighting, and the funding in Chad ($15 million) will support refugees and others. Funding will also go to Niger ($10 million), Lebanon ($9 million) and Honduras ($6 million)," the OCHA said.
With humanitarian crises projected to continue through 2024, the latest CERF allocation is pivotal in expanding aid efforts and rallying additional donor support for enduring and overlooked emergencies, the UN said.
However, the organization added that while the allocation is significant, it highlights the ongoing challenge of securing adequate funding for the world's most neglected crises.
The decrease in CERF funding in 2023, the lowest since 2018, underscores the gap between available resources and the escalating humanitarian needs, according to the agency.
"In 2023, to support 250 million people affected by conflicts, natural disasters, diseases and other crises, global funding requirements surged to $56.7 billion – a record high. But less than 40% of that funding was received, leaving the most vulnerable people to bear the brunt," the OCHA said.
CERF disburses resources for underfunded emergencies biannually. The previous allocation in September 2023 provided $125 million to support humanitarian operations in several other crisis-affected countries, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Mali, Mozambique and Uganda.