Norway contributes US$ 61 million to the UN’s Emergency Response Fund

Norway pledged US$ 61 million to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund for 2014 at the CERF High-Level Conference in New York on 13 December 2013. 

“The Emergency Response Fund is a key instrument for Norway’s humanitarian efforts. It is used to make rapid payments for emergency relief in acute crises and in underfinanced and ignored crises where there are great needs but little donor or media attention,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.

CERF provides around US$450 million a year to relieve humanitarian crises all over world. It provided more than US$25 million for life-saving emergency relief only few days after the typhoon struck the Philippines in November, and continual support has been given to the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Relief for people affected by under-reported crises such as those in Yemen, Chad and the Central African Republic, has also been financed by the Fund.

“Norway is a strong supporter of the coordinating role led by the UN in crisis situations. At the same time, the fact that nearly 90 % of the Fund’s total budget is provided only by a small group of donor countries is unfortunate. I encourage more countries to contribute,” said Mr Brende.

Since the Fund was established in 2006, Norway has been the third largest donor, after the UK and Sweden.