UN seeks $7.7 billion to provide humanitarian aid to millions of people in 2012
UN seeks $7.7 billion to provide humanitarian aid to millions of people in 2012
Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos launches appeal for $7.7 billion to assist 51 million people in 16 countries
The United Nations and its partners today called for $7.7 billion to provide humanitarian assistance to 51 million people in 16 countries over the course of next year, launching the largest appeal in two decades.
“Millions of people will be affected by emergencies caused or worsened by the impact of climate change, insecurity over food and water, economic and political crises, migration, urbanization and rapid population growth,” Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos said at the launch of the appeal in Geneva.
“We urgently need the continued support of people and governments around the world to help those desperately in need,” underscored Ms. Amos, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator.
We urgently need the continued support of people and governments around the world to help those desperately in need.
The appeal for 2012 is the largest launched since the creation of the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) in 1991, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
It comprises appeals for Afghanistan, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Djibouti, Haiti, Kenya, Niger, the occupied Palestinian territory, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Yemen and Zimbabwe.
“Millions need our help,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a year-end press conference in New York, referring to today’s appeal. “Economic times are hard. But we cannot balance budgets with the lives of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.”
Ms. Amos told reporters that the appeals with significant increases from 2011 are Somalia, Yemen, Djibouti, South Sudan, and the Mindanao situation in the Philippines. Somalia requires $500 million more for next year than for 2011.
The humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa – Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia – remains the largest in the world, she noted. Four million people need urgent humanitarian aid in Somalia alone, and close to 600,000 refugees have sought protection in Kenya.
Humanitarian action has already had a significant impact in many regions of Somalia, and three areas of the country have moved from being “famine” areas to “emergency.”
“However, the situation remains fragile, and aid organizations will only be able to sustain these improvements if the current level of assistance is maintained,” stress Ms. Amos.
The $2.4 billion requested in 2011 for these four countries in the region has been 78 per cent funded. Total requirements for the Horn of Africa will be 20 per cent higher in 2012 than for 2011.
The appeal is also seeking $763 million to help people in the world’s newest nation, South Sudan; $718 million for DRC; $455 million for Chad; $437 million for Afghanistan; $416 million for the occupied Palestinian territory; and $230 million for Haiti, among other countries.
The launch of the Consolidated Appeal marks the culmination of a process in which 466 aid organizations, including UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and other international bodies, have come together to coordinate plans to meet ongoing needs in a strategic way.
Last year the UN and its partners sought more than $7.4 billion to help 50 million people suffering from the effects of conflicts and natural disasters in 28 countries.
Meanwhile, in New York, the General Assembly held its annual discussion on strengthening the coordination of UN humanitarian and disaster relief assistance, including issues such as boosting resilience, preparedness and capacities for humanitarian response, as well as humanitarian financing.
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Consolidated Appeals 2012 – UN Humanitarian Chief seeks US$ 7.7 billion to aid 51 million people in 2012
(Geneva: 14 December 2011): Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos, on behalf of international humanitarian organisations, today called for US$ 7.7 billion to help 51 million people in 16 countries in 2012. She was joined at a briefing at the United Nations in Geneva by European Union’s Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva
“Millions of people will be affected by emergencies caused or worsened by the impact of climate change, insecurity over food and water, economic and political crises, migration, urbanisation and rapid population growth. These appeals are focused on ensuring help is provided in a timely and effective way” Under-Secretary-General Amos stated.
The appeal for 2012 is the largest launched since the creation of the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) in 1991. It comprises appeals, for Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Haiti, Kenya, Niger, the occupied Palestinian territory, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Yemen and Zimbabwe.
“Amid challenging economic conditions and pressure on donor budgets, a similar aid effort will be needed in most of the Horn of Africa and other crisis regions in 2012. Despite hardship at home, the EU will continue to play its part” said Commissioner Georgieva.
“We urgently need the continued support of people and governments around the world to help those desperately in need” Ms Amos underlined.
The consolidated appeals for 2012 mark the culmination of a process in which 466 aid organisations including United Nations agencies, non-governmental organisations and other international organisations have come together to coordinate plans to meet ongoing needs in a strategic and coordinated way.
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About the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort.
OCHA’s mission is to:
- Mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies.
- Advocate the rights of people in need.
- Promote preparedness and prevention.
- Facilitate sustainable solutions.
How we deliver
OCHA’s Strategic Framework ensures that OCHA delivers on its core mandate, while responding to contemporary global challenges. The three pillars of the Strategic Framework are:
1. Partnerships: broadening the coalition for multilateral humanitarian action
The scale and scope of global challenges requires working together in new ways, with new partners. Partnership has always been integral to OCHA’s efforts. Sustained relations, built on trust and mutual respect, are vital when preparing for and responding to humanitarian emergencies. OCHA has a unique position within the international humanitarian system to convene and influence agendas. We will do this more strategically, with the aim of creating a more enabling environment for humanitarian action.
2. Service provider: building a better system
The expectations of OCHA have evolved since humanitarian reform. We will ensure that our services and support to partners also evolve and meet clients’ needs. We are focused on helping partners more predictably through humanitarian coordination leadership, strengthening coordination mechanisms, and improving the evidence base for humanitarian decision-making, planning and resource allocation.
3. Reliability and professionalism: creating better staffing and surge solutions to be there when it counts
In 2010, OCHA will introduce surge solutions to ensure the right people are on the ground immediately after a new disaster. This will be coordinated with longer-term staffing to ensure continuity of OCHA presence.
OCHA people
OCHA is its people. From 35 offices around the world, some 1,900 specialized and dedicated OCHA staff work to ensure that effective assistance reaches millions of humanitarian beneficiaries in four continents.
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> United Nations (UN).
The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security. Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs to the UN: membership totals 192 countries.
When States become Members of the United Nations, they agree to accept the obligations of the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out basic principles of international relations. According to the Charter, the UN has four purposes:
- to maintain international peace and security;
- to develop friendly relations among nations;
- to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights;
- and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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* The above story is adapted from materials provided by United Nations (UN)
** More information at United Nations (UN)
