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CERF Newsletter Apr 2009

Countries
Afghanistan
+ 9 more
Sources
OCHA
Publication date

More contributors support CERF

New Member State and non-state contributors emerged in March 2009 in support of the CERF.

Lao People's Democratic Republic and Namibia made the CERF supporters list for the first time with contributions of $3,000 and $1,000, respectively becoming the Fund's 93rd and 104th largest donors.

They join Afghanistan ($1,440 pledge), Benin ($1,500), Kenya ($10,000 pledge), Mozambique ($2,000 pledge), Oman ($30,000), Samoa ($2,000 pledge), Timor-Leste ($1,200), Tuvalu ($1,000) and Viet Nam ($10,000 pledge) in 2009 as first-time contributors to the Fund.

Meanwhile, the non-governmental organization Red Crescent of the United Arab Emirates joined the growing list of non-state contributors to the Fund with a $9,981.50 contribution. Contributions to CERF in 2009 have exceeded $383 million.

Country allocations and highlights for March 2009

In March, CERF allocated over $9.3 million for relief activities in Afghanistan, Iraq, Namibia, Niger, the occupied Palestinian territories, and the Republic of Guinea.

Afghanistan

Frequent drought and subsequent food shortages are among the root causes of acute and chronic malnutrition in Afghanistan.

Agricultural reports show that the cereal production will be the lowest experienced since 2002. The provision of improved seed is crucial to ensuring crop production in the areas worst hit by drought and safeguarding the food security of affected communities.

To address the immediate humanitarian needs related to food insecurity, CERF has allocated nearly $1.5 million to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to distribute wheat seed for the 2009 spring and autumn planting seasons in drought-affected areas of Afghanistan.

In February, CERF allocated almost $2.7 million in response to the severe winter in the country.

Angola

In Angola, heavy rains have devastated a growing number of regions, particularly the south and central regions, affecting some 200,000 people. In addition, a significant cholera epidemic has struck the country, with 421 cases already reported so far this year.

In response, CERF has allocated over $2.3 million to humanitarian relief partners in Angola. The majority of the funding will go to UNICEF projects to provide health supplies and ensure access to safe water.

CERF allocated $700,000 to WHO to provide access to emergency health for displaced communities, and another $445,000 to IOM to help to 10,000 displaced persons.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.