Date: September 16, 2022
News Author(s): Emma Farge
Photo Credit: Reuters
Source: investing.com
GENEVA (Reuters) - Faced with a record $32 billion shortfall in humanitarian aid funding, the United Nations is dipping deep into its emergency fund to support critical programmes in 11 countries including Myanmar and Mali.
Donors have given more than ever in 2022 for crises across the world but the needs have also soared amid unprecedented floods in Pakistan and famine warnings in Somalia, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says.
"We know these are difficult times, not least after COVID where budgets have shrunk and we've seen global recessionary trends," Jens Laerke, spokesperson for OCHA, said at a Geneva press briefing.
"However the needs are sky-rocketing. It's out of control."
The latest drawdown of $100 million means that OCHA has spent a record quarter of a billion dollars from the Central Emergency Response Fund so far this year. Laerke did not say how much remained. The fund enables the world body to respond quickly to new humanitarian crises or underfunded emergencies without having to wait for earmarked donations.
The money will go to life-saving programmes including in Myanmar and Mali which are only 18%- and 28%-funded. In contrast, Ukraine is one of just a handful of dozens of countries where programmes are more than half funded, at 66%, according to OCHA.
Noting the late arrival of funds for crises in the Horn of Africa and Pakistan, Laerke said some of the newly-released funding will also be used for "anticipatory action" in Niger to address the impact of drought.
"A common concern is that resources often get mobilised only when the disasters reach peak point, the suffering is at its worst, and the response becomes more expensive," he added.
Keywords: sterlinghousetrust.com, Sterling House Trust, SHT
Sterling House Trust is a private trust with a difference. It offers its members an exclusive and reliable platform to access unique opportunities and lifestyle services reserved for the select few. With its team of professional managers Sterling House Trust constantly scans the markets and collaborate with reliable global partners to create a portfolio of carefully curated programmes for its members. Members can access these programmes according to their individual needs, interest and financial capacity. Sterling House Trust is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, and has operations based in London, UK.
The Sterling House Trust platform was established with the objective of providing its members, secure access to opportunities across a range of global locations, sectors and services.
Our unique Platform was established within the framework of a trust so that the trust would have oversight and governance over the range of services and its quality. Member protection is a core principle and drive in all that we do. Our trustees ensures that the interests and quality of service provided by the Platform are always maintained at the highest standards.
The trust and its trustees provide robust oversight and is constantly on the move to identify and shortlist select opportunities in the international markets. Likewise, we apply the same stringent standards in identifying and selecting providers and professional partners to join our Platform.
The Sterling House Trust Platform utilises our international footfall and relationships to provide our members with access to a range of international opportunities via our global network which covers a broad range of sectors including:
Asset protection, international property ownership and management, alternative and direct ownership, estate planning, banking services, foreign exchange, card services, alternative investment and lifestyle services.
New Zealand Head Office
31/335 Lincoln Road,
Addington
Christchurch
New Zealand
London Office
14-16 Dowgate Hill,
London,
England EC4R 2SU