Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called on member states to contribute to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to "keep hope alive for the millions of people who depend on us."
“We meet at very difficult times,” when humanitarian needs are growing and crises are multiplying, Mr. Guterres said in his speech at a high-level fundraising event for CERF in 2026.
While CERF is the world body's flexible first-aid fund, the humanitarian system's reserves are "being depleted," he said.
Since 2006, CERF has provided nearly $10 billion in life-saving assistance to more than 100 countries, working with more than 20 UN agencies and hundreds of partners, reaching tens of millions of people each year, the UN chief said.
This year alone, CERF has allocated nearly $110 million to neglected and underfunded emergencies, from Afghanistan to Somalia and beyond, he said.
The Fund sprang into action as soon as humanitarian access to Gaza was opened and helped scale up aid for 2.5 million people in Sudan, he said, adding that as Hurricane Melissa approached the Caribbean, the Fund helped countries take early action by providing funds, evacuation assistance and essential supplies, giving families invaluable time before the storm arrived.
But today, the humanitarian system faces its most serious test, the UN Secretary-General warned, adding that “across the system, we are trying to make the most effective use of every dollar.”
Donor contributions have fallen sharply in 2025, he said, with projected contributions this year being the lowest since 2015.
“This is a moment when we are being asked to do more and more with less and less resources,” said Guterres, calling on Member States to reach the $1 billion target for the CERF, approved by the UN General Assembly, and to ensure predictability of humanitarian funding for the coming years. –0–
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