Nairobi (19 July 2013) The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) for Somalia, Philippe Lazzarini, has expressed his appreciation to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for allocating Somalia US$20 million for underfunded emergencies to support vital humanitarian aid for one year. Somalia was allocated the highest funding out of a total $72 million apportioned to 12 countries categorized as neglected crises around the world. Mr Lazzarini said, “The allocation for Somalia will help fill the gaps in key life-saving interventions in critical humanitarian domains.” By midway through the year, the Consolidated Appeal (CAP) had only received one third of the requested $1.15 billion in funding, with certain humanitarian clusters having received less than a quarter of their requirements.
“This massive shortfall in funding jeopardizes efforts to build Somalis’ resilience to future shocks such as drought,” Mr Lazzarini warned.
Despite improvements in overall food security, livelihoods and nutrition situation, 1 million Somalis, including 215,000 children, remain in crisis and are in urgent need of life-saving interventions. A further 1.7 million who recently emerged from crisis could revert without sustained support. Even with the improved conditions, malnutrition rates in Somalia are among the highest in the world, with one in seven children acutely malnourished. Decades of conflict has also left over 1 million people internally displaced, and forced 1 million people to seek refuge in neighbouring countries.
“The CERF allocation to Somalia is a welcome donation coming at an opportune time to support the most vulnerable men, women and children in Somalia and will ensure that humanitarian organisations continue their work,” Mr. Lazzarini added.
CERF is funded by voluntary contributions from UN Member States, NGOs, local governments, the private sector and individual donors. In 2013, donors have so far pledged more than $420 million in support of the Fund, bringing the total amount contributed to CERF since March 2006 to more than $3.2 billion.
For further information, please contact:
Matthew Conway conwaym@un.org +254 (0)732 500 010