UN unveils $160M aid for underfunded humanitarian crises, including eight in Africa

The United Nations on Friday released $160 million in emergency funding for 12 underfunded humanitarian crises, including eight in Africa.

The funding, announced by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on October 2, will support urgent humanitarian operations in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan, as well as four crises outside Africa.

The allocation comes through the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which provides rapid funding for life-saving humanitarian operations. The UN describes CERF as one of its fastest mechanisms for supporting people affected by conflict and natural disasters.

"We have 87 million people to reach, and no time to waste. Today's new funding will help us get aid to people who might otherwise be left behind," said Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. "But money alone won't get us there: leaders must exercise political will to open access, remove obstacles and help us reach people whose lives are on the line."

The African countries that will benefit from the allocation are Burkina Faso ($10 million), Cameroon ($6 million), Chad ($9 million), Mali ($10 million), Niger ($10 million), Somalia ($16 million) and South Sudan ($15 million), and Sudan ($16 million).

Beyond Africa, the crises for which funding has been allocated include Yemen ($18 million), Afghanistan ($18 million), the Occupied Palestinian Territory ($18 million) and Cuba ($4 million).

The allocation also includes $10 million to address the urgent needs of people with disabilities in the 12 crises and make humanitarian assistance more accessible and inclusive.