Sep 1 , 2024
The United Nations has allocated 15 million dollars to Ethiopia from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for urgent relief to millions facing hunger, displacement, disease outbreaks, and climate-related disasters. It is expected to support critical interventions, including food assistance, shelter, health services, and protection efforts, particularly in areas severely affected by conflict and natural disasters. Ethiopia is among the top recipients in this latest funding round, second only to Yemen, which is set to receive 20 million dollars. The fund is part of a broader 100-million-dollar package aimed at addressing underfunded humanitarian crises around the globe. It comes amidst a worsening global funding outlook for humanitarian emergencies. Joyce Msuya, acting under secretary general for Humanitarian Affairs & Emergency Relief Coordinator, said lack of funding prevents aid agencies from reaching people who need life-saving assistance, stressing the importance of CERF as a crucial emergency fund when other humanitarian financing falls short. Managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), CERF has been a lifeline for those in dire need since its inception in 2005, disbursing over 9.3 billion dollars to support emergency responses in more than 110 countries. This includes over 3.2 billion dollars allocated specifically for underfunded crises like the current one in Ethiopia.