Overview of 2009 Underfunded Round 1 (PDF) [download]

CERF Newsletter June 2009 (PDF) [download]

CERF Newsletter May 2009 (PDF) [download]

CERF allocates $8.3 million to bolster aid to internally displaced persons in Pakistan, 12 May 2009 (OCHA)

Hundreds of thousands of people in northwestern Pakistan will benefit from emergency programmes supported by allocations totaling more than $8 million from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). [full text]

CERF funding for WHO humanitarian work passes $100 million barrier, 28 April 2009 (WHO) 

Funding from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for humanitarian work of the World Health Organization has passed the US$ 100 million barrier, underscoring WHO's critical role in providing life-saving health interventions before, during and after emergencies. [full text]

CERF Newletter April 2009 (PDF) [download]

CERF Newsletter March 2009 (PDF) [download]

CERF Newsletter February 2009 (PDF) [download]

CERF Allocates $75 Million to 14 Underfunded Crises, 6 February 2009 (OCHA) 

The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes, today
allocated some $75 million to boost humanitarian response in 14 chronically neglected emergencies
where people are daily dying of hunger, malnutrition, disease, and conflict around the world. [full text]

Cholera Cases in Zimbabwe Surpass 60,000, CERF Gives $7.8 Million to Combat the Disease, 30 January 2009 (OCHA)

The number of cholera cases in Zimbabwe has surpassed the World Health Organization’s
(WHO) worst-case scenario figure of 60,000, an indication that the epidemic is still far from under control despite
concerted efforts by local health authorities, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations. The disease has claimed the lives of 3,095 people as of 28 January. [full text]

Heart-breaking Suffering and Destruction in Gaza: UN Humanitarian Chief, 22 January 2009 (OCHA)

On the second day of his visit to the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel, Under-
Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes travelled to Gaza. The
ERC, with the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry, kick-started the assessment of
the most immediate humanitarian and early recovery needs after the three-week military operation in Gaza. [full text]

UN Humanitarian Chief Visits Gaza, 21 January 2009 (OCHA)

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes arrived in Jerusalem today for a fourday mission to review humanitarian needs in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) in the wake of the recent military operation in the Gaza Strip. [full text]


UN Humanitarian Fund Allocates $5 Million to Help Rising Number of Somali Refugees in Kenya, 12 January 2009 (OCHA)

As part of United Nations efforts to address the growing needs of
an increasing number of Somali refugees in Kenya, the Central Emergency Response Fund
(CERF) has allocated a total of five million dollars to three UN agencies to enable them to
continue assisting the refugees. [full text]

CERF Newsletter January 2009 (PDF) [download]


UN Humanitarian Fund Reaches $450 Million Target This Year, 30 December 2008 (OCHA)

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has for the
first time reached its $450 million annual funding target. The target was set by the United
Nations General Assembly, which created the fund in 2006. Contributions to CERF in 2008 now
stand at $452.5 million. [full text]

UN emergency response fund this year reaches its $450 million target for first time, 30 December 2008 (UN News Centre)

The United Nations emergency relief fund, set up to speed response to those suffering from natural and man-made disasters, has reached its $450 million annual funding target for the first time, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced today. [full text]


Donors pledge $380m to emergency fund, 8 December 2008 (IRIN)

Donor countries pledged US$380 million for 2009 to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) on 4 December, a vital source of financing in humanitarian emergencies. [full text]


Top UN official upbeat as many Member States commit to emergency relief fund, 5 December 2008 (UN News)

The United Nations humanitarian chief announced today that around $380 million was pledged to its emergency relief fund that can be quickly accessed by the world body, potentially saving thousands of lives when responding to disasters. [full text]

UN Emergency Fund Gets $380 Million for 2009, 6 December 2008 (PDF) (the Associated Press) [download]

A fund to help the United Nations respond quickly to humanitarian emergencies around the world received nearly $380 million in pledges for 2009 despite the global economic crisis, the U.N. humanitarian chief said Friday. 
[full text]

More than Half of UN Member States Contribute to UN Humanitarian Fund, 5 December 2008 (PDF) (OCHA) [download]

United Nations Member States and two private sector donors pledged nearly $380 million to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) at the High Level Event held on 4 December, during which the number of contributors to the fund surpassed 100, more than half the number of all UN General Assembly members. [full text]

Press Release on High-Level Conference of CERF 2008 (PDF) [download]

If three more Member States contribute to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) at this week’s annual event to be hosted by the Secretary-General, it will mean that half of the General Assembly’s 192 members have pledged to the humanitarian fund that was created to help victims of sudden-onset disasters and neglected emergencies in a fast, reliable and impartial manner. [full text]

CERF Newsletter December 2008 (PDF) [download]

CERF Newsletter November 2008 (PDF) [download] 

IOM Nairobi Newsletter October 2008 (PDF) [download]

Secretary General appoints new CERF Advisory Group members, 31 October 2008 (PDF) (OCHA) [download]

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of 16 members to the Advisory Group of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), including four alternates. Seven of the 16 members have previously served on the Advisory Group. Their re-nomination helps to ensure the continuation of the institutional memory of the Advisory Group, one-third of which should rotate every year. [full text]

Secretary General's Report on CERF, 17 October 2008 (PDF) [download]

CERF October Newsletter, 16 October 2008 (PDF) [download]

CERF funds top $1 billion mark in allocations, 14 October 2008 (PDF) [download]

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has now allocated
more than one billion dollars for humanitarian aid around the world since it was launched in March
2006. An allocation this week of $202,714 for nutrition and supplementary feeding for women and
children in Tajikistan, which is suffering from chronic food insecurity made worse by a poor harvest
and soaring food prices, took the total allocations beyond the one billion dollar level. [full text]

CERF September Newsletter, 13 September 2008 (PDF) [download] 

CERF August Newsletter, 15 August 2008 (PDF) [download]

Countries affected by global food crisis receive extra funding , 8 August 2008 (OCHA)

The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated an additional $30 million to help alleviate the suffering of millions of people in 12 countries most severely affected by the global food crisis. The allocation will be used to fund humanitarian programmes in three countries in the hardest hit Horn of Africa region - Djibouti, Eritrea and Kenya. Other beneficiary countries are Burkina Faso, Burundi, Lesotho, Madagascar, Niger, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Yemen and Zimbabwe. [full text]

Chad receives $1.2 million to replace lost aid supplies, 7 August 2008 (OCHA)

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) of the United Nations has granted an amount of $ 1.2 million, in response to a request from Humanitarian Coordinator for Chad Kingsley Amaning, for the emergency replacement of non-food items (NFIs) that were burnt or looted as a result of warfare in eastern Chad in mid-June. [full text]

Seven underfunded emergencies receive $30 million, 30 July 2008 (OCHA)

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes, today announced the allocation of $30 million to support agencies carrying out life-saving aid programmes in seven crisis countries in need of an injection of aid funding - Afghanistan, Burundi, Chad, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iraq, Sri Lanka and Syria. [full text]

CERF July Newsletter, 24 July 2008 (CERF) [download]

CERF June Newsletter, 30 June 2008 (CERF) [download]

Austria raises contribution to humanitarian fund by 70 percent, 2 June 2008 (OCHA)

The Government of Austria pledged an additional $233,645 to the
Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) last week. The country’s total contribution for 2008
now stands at $674,495, after it committed an initial $440,850 at the high-level United Nations
conference in support of the CERF in December 2007. This total amounts to an increase of
almost 70 percent in comparison to last year’s contribution of $401,430. [full text]

CERF May Newsletter, 23 May 2008 (CERF) [download]

UN relief chief sets aside $100 million in emergency funds for food crisis, 19 May 2008 (UN News Centre)

The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator has decided to reserve $100 million from the world body’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to address immediate issues stemming from the food crisis triggered by the recent surge in global food prices. [full text]

Japan pledges $1 million for humanitarian fund, 15 April 2008 (OCHA)

At a briefing convened today by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to update all Member States on the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the Government of Japan announced a pledge of $1 million for 2008. Japan was one of the top original contributors at the official launch of the CERF in 2006. [download]

CERF April Newsletter, 11 April 2008 (CERF) [download]

CERF March Newsletter, 14 March 2008 (CERF) [download]

CERF February Newsletter, 22 February 2008 (CERF) [download]

ERC allocates US$ 104.3 million for forgotten crises in the world, 1 February 2008 (OCHA)

John Holmes, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, today allocated $104.3 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to enable aid agencies to carry out critical life-saving programmes in fifteen countries during the first months of 2008. [full text]

CERF January Newsletter, 29 January 2008 (CERF) [download]

UN warns Kenya aid need may grow, 12 January 2008 (BBC News)

Up to 500,000 people in Kenya will need humanitarian assistance in the weeks ahead if the country's political crisis intensifies, the UN has warned. [full text]

ERC announces an initial allocation of $7 million to assist IDPs in Kenya, 9 January 2008 (OCHA) [full text]

Contributions to Central Emergency Response Fund exceed $1 billion, 13 December 2007 (OCHA) [full text]

Canada Allocates $192 Million to the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund, 13 December 2007 (CIDA) [full text]

Germany Doubles Support to UN Emergency Fund, 13 December 2007 (OCHA) [full text]

Spain Increases Support to Emergency Fund by Over 40% , 13 December 2007 (OCHA) [full text]

Western Union Becomes First Corporate Donor to UN Emergency Fund , 13 December 2007 (OCHA) [full text]

CERF December Newsletter, 12 December 2007 (CERF) [download]

CERF November Newsletter, 26 November 2007 (CERF) [download]

IRIN News, 20 November 2007 (IRIN)

In a January report, Save the Children UK - one of the more vocal non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on humanitarian financing reforms - criticised the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for being “clumsy and inefficient” in its distribution of funds to NGOs. However, by September this year their view had shifted. “I’m fairly optimistic that things are moving in the right direction,” said Amelia Bookstein, head of humanitarian policy at Save the Children UK (Save UK). [full text]

CERF October Newsletter, 22 October 2007 (CERF) [download]

CERF September Newsletter, 11 September 2007 (CERF) [download]

United Nations allocates $8.7 million for Sudan floods, 20 August 2007 (OCHA)

Amid continued devastation caused by floods in the Sudan, John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), has approved a grant of US$ 8.7 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), to support the ongoing humanitarian response. [full text]

CERF August Newsletter, 16 August 2007 (CERF) [download]

UN willing to provide up to $20 million for floods in South Asia, 10 August 2007 (OCHA)

The United Nations is offering to step up its support to governments across South Asia as they respond to the enormous needs created by floods from heavy monsoon rains. Floods in
Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh have affected over 45 million people, causing over 2,200 deaths and damaging over 4 million hectares of crops, according to respective government figures. [full text]

Humanitarian community seeks $18.9 million to address Lesotho's worst drought in thirty years, 30 July 2007 (OCHA)

The humanitarian community has launched an appeal for $18.9 million to assist the Government of Lesotho, which declared a state of emergency on 9 July after the country was hit by the worst drought in thirty years. [full text]

UN Humanitarian Aid Fund Grants $201 million in the first half of 2007, 17 July 2007 (OCHA)

From getting medical treatment, building material and food to Afghan refugees to providing helicopters for distributing food in Sudan, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has given almost $201 million for life-saving aid activities in the first half of 2007. The largest amounts of rapid response funding from the CERF during this period went to Mozambique ($11.2 million), Guinea ($9.8 million) and Chad ($7.2 million). [download]

CERF July Newsletter, 17 July 2007 (CERF) [download]

CERF June Newsletter, 14 June 2007 (CERF) [download]

OCHA holds two-day CERF workshop for French-speaking West Africa, 31 May 2007 (OCHA)

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Regional Office for West Africa has organized the first workshop in French on the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), from 31 May to 1 June 2007 in Dakar, Senegal. [full text] [full text in French]

Advisory Group commends progress of the Central Emergency Response Fund, 24 May 2007 (CERF)

The Advisory Group to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) endorsed several recommendations to further improve and strengthen the capacity of the CERF to save lives. [full text]

CERF May Newsletter, 18 May 2007 (CERF) [download]

Italy pledges $1.3 million to Global Response Fund, 15 May 2007 (OCHA)

The Government of Italy yesterday announced a pledge of $1.3 million for the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The pledge marks Italy’s first contribution to the CERF, and brings the total number of Member States contributing to the Fund to 71 with a total of more than $345 million in pledges and contributions for 2007. [full text]

CERF April Newsletter, 5 April 2007 (CERF) [download]

UN Aid Fund grants $130 million in first three months of 2007, 3 April 2007 (OCHA)

From getting food, clothing and shelter to flood survivors in Southern Africa and South America, to ensuring security for ongoing operations in Sri Lanka and Somalia, to providing urgently needed vaccines and medicines for outbreaks of cholera and meningitis in West Africa, the CERF has funded some $130 million in life-saving aid activities in the first three months of 2007. [full text]

At one year, $376 million provided by Emergency Fund, 9 March 2007 (OCHA)

In the year since its official launch on 9 March 2006, $376.1 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has been used to provide life-saving humanitarian aid in 40 countries through 361 individual projects. [full text] 

Urgent international action needed to boost UN Humanitarian Fund, 9 March 2007 (Oxfam) [download Briefing Paper]

CERF March Newsletter, 8 March 2007 (CERF) [download]

UN Gives $7.6 million to Mozambique for flood victims, 23 February 2007 (OCHA)

The United Nations has made more than $7.6 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) available for life-saving activities in Mozambique, where severe flooding has displaced some 142,000 people since the beginning of February. [full text]

$2.35 million to Guinea from Global Emergency Fund, 16 February 2007 (OCHA)

The United Nations has made $2.35 million available from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for urgent humanitarian activities in the West African country of Guinea. [full text] [French]

CERF February Newsletter, 16 February 2007 (CERF) [download]

United Nations assists flood-stricken Indonesia, 9 February 2007 (OCHA)

The Acting United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Margareta Wahlström, has decided to make available up to $2 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for urgent humanitarian relief in Indonesia, in the wake of the severe flooding that has affected the capital of Jakarta and surrounding areas.[full text]

United Nations gives $85 million to underfunded crisis, 7 February 2007 (OCHA)

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affaris (OCHA) today announced that just under $85 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) will be used to fund life-saving programmes in 15 countries, in the first of two annual rounds of allocations for underfunded emergencies. [link] [full text]

CERF January Newsletter, 23 January 2007 (CERF) [download]

United Nations Emergency Fund helps 31 countries in 2006, 10 January 2007 (OCHA)

The United Nations has committed USD 241 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to more than 328 projects in 31 countries during the first nine months of the Fund’s existence. [link] [full text]

Sir John Holmes has been appointed Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, 3 January 2007 (OCHA)

On his second day in office, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed John Holmes to succeed Jan Egeland as the next Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.  Sir John Holmes is currently the British Ambassador in Paris, a post he has held since October 2001.[full text]

[Press Room ARCHIVE]