Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Armenia Among The Founding Donors Of The Modernized CERF

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Armenia Among The Founding Donors Of The Modernized CERF

    Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia
    to the United Nations
    119E 36th street, New York, NY 10016
    Tel.: 1-212-686-9079
    Fax: 1-212-686-3934
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Web: http://www.un.int/armenia/

    March 10, 2006

    PRESS RELEASE

    ARMENIA AMONG THE FOUNDING DONORS OF THE MODERNIZED CERF

    Armenia was among the first 31 countries to pledge financial support in the
    amount of 5000 USD to the United Nations upgraded Central Emergency Response
    Fund (CERF), which was officially launched yesterday, on March 9, at the
    United Nations Headquarters in New York. The pledges totaled over $256
    million, which would enable the Fund to make immediate deployment of
    assistance.

    At the 2005 Summit the world leaders mandated to take steps to improve the
    humanitarian response system, including through timely and predictable
    funding. On December 15, 2005, as part of its resolution on "Strengthening
    the Coordination of the Emergency Humanitarian Assistance of the United
    Nations," the General Assembly approved by consensus resolution establishing
    the new Fund. The Member-States decided to upgrade the existing Central
    Emergency Revolving Fund into the Central Emergency Response Fund by
    including a grant element of $450 million, funded by voluntary
    contributions, in order to ensure a more rapid response to humanitarian
    crisis.

    In a statement made at the official launch of the modernized CERF, Armenia
    stated: "The upgrading of the existing CERF and adding the grant element
    will help launch life-saving relief operations. The Fund will provide the
    needed tools to better meet the challenges of today's world when rapid
    response to sudden onset emergencies in crucial hours of a crisis becomes
    the test of international community's readiness and resolve to combat common
    disasters." Furthermore, it noted that" "Having a new stand-by fund would
    allow this organization to use prevention where and when possible, in
    recurring emergencies, as well as in stopping a crisis from spilling out of
    control." It also emphasized: "It is through collective action and continued
    and demonstrable support that we will succeed in improving global
    humanitarian system and make difference for people in need."

    Among the dignitaries that attended the high-level gathering on the launch
    of the Fund were UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Prime Minister of Grenada,
    Minister of State for External Affairs of India, Secretary of State for
    International Development of the United Kingdom, Minister for Development
    Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg, State Secretary for
    International Development Cooperation of Sweden and State Secretary of
    Norway.

    END
Working...
X