UN Solicits $1b For Nigeria, Others

The Secretary-General of the United Nations. António Guterres has called for a one billion dollars donor contributions to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to fund life-saving works in Nigeria and other countries.

CERF is a pool of funding that supports critical relief operations in crises area around the world. The humanitarian needs have increased from $5.2 billion in 2005 to over $24 billion today.

Guterres said “CERF is without question one of our most important tools to reach people quickly and save lives.

“In 2018, protracted crises are likely to continue, while the impact of climate change is likely to grow and intensify.

“There is no sign of a let-up in humanitarian needs,” the UN chief said, noting that this was why the General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2016 calling for an expansion of CERF’s annual funding target from 450 million dollars to one billion dollars…

“One billion dollar is an ambitious but achievable goal… a strong United Nations needs a strong CERF.”

The fund also supported relief responses in other places, including for Palestine refugees in Gaza, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, and those affected by hurricanes Irma and Maria in the Caribbean

Protracted conflict and the impact of natural disasters, compounded by structural fragility and chronic vulnerability, meant that more people than ever before survive on the brink of disaster, he said.