With global humanitarian funding being scaled back precipitously, the United Nations today allocated US$110 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to boost life-saving assistance in 10 of the world’s most underfunded and neglected crises across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
More than 300 million people around the world urgently need humanitarian aid, but funding has been dwindling annually, with this year’s levels projected to drop to a record low.
“For countries battered by conflict, climate change and economic turmoil, brutal funding cuts don’t mean that humanitarian needs disappear,” said Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. “Today’s emergency fund allocation channels resources swiftly to where they’re needed most.”
One third of the new CERF funding will support Sudan, which is grappling with violence, displacement and hunger, and neighbouring Chad, to where many have fled. The funds will also bolster the humanitarian response in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Honduras, Mauritania, Niger, Somalia, Venezuela and Zambia. Funds will also support life-saving initiatives to protect vulnerable people from climate shocks, made possible by CERF’s Climate Action Account.
Twice a year, CERF – the UN global emergency fund managed by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – allocates resources for underfunded emergencies as a global alert to spotlight the need for additional funding from Member States, the private sector and others. In late 2024, $110 million was disbursed to help more than 3 million people in underfunded emergencies in Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Haiti, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar and Yemen.
This year, the humanitarian community is seeking nearly $45 billion to reach 185 million of the most vulnerable people caught up in crises worldwide. To date, just 5 per cent of this funding has been received, leaving a gap of more than $42 billion.
Note to the Editor
CERF is one of the fastest funding instruments available to help people affected by crises. Managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, CERF enables timely, effective and life-saving humanitarian action by UN agencies and others to kickstart or reinforce emergency responses anywhere they are required. Funding decisions for underfunded emergencies are based on detailed analysis of more than 90 humanitarian indicators and wide consultation with partners.
Since its creation by the UN General Assembly in 2005, and with generous contributions from 130 Member States and observers, as well as other donors including private individuals, CERF has assisted hundreds of millions of people with some $9.6 billion across more than 110 countries and territories. This includes $3.3 billion to underfunded crises. CERF has an annual funding target of $1 billion.
CERF is the leading global humanitarian funding tool for responding to climate-related humanitarian emergencies. To strengthen this function, CERF launched its Climate Action Account at COP28, offering a quick, efficient and impactful avenue for climate-related humanitarian finance. It aims to assist the world’s most vulnerable communities facing the consequences of the climate crisis, including through anticipatory action and life-saving projects that also build people’s adaptation and resilience.
For further information, please contact:
In New York, Eri Kaneko, kaneko@un.org, +1 917 208 8910
In Geneva: Jens Laerke, laerke@un.org, +41 79 472 9750
