The UN has allocated 15 million dollars from the 100 million dollars earmarked to Africa and Middle East to address food insecurity as the spillover effects of Ukraine war threaten to push millions even closer to famine.
The contribution from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which was announced on Thursday, would go towards relief projects in six African countries and Yemen.
The CERF was established in 2005 to deliver urgently needed humanitarian assistance whenever and wherever crises arise.
The fund pools contributions from a range of donors, with more than 130 UN Member States, observers, others, including private individuals, providing more than eight billion dollars through the years.
“Food insecurity in these seven countries is mainly being driven by armed conflict, drought and economic turmoil, and the Ukraine conflict is making a dire situation even worse.
“The war began on Feb. 24 and disrupted food and energy markets, causing food and fuel prices to soar,’’ Martin Griffiths, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator said.
The CERF funding will support humanitarian operations, with 30 million dollars for the Horn of Africa, divided between Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya.
Another 20 million dollars will go to Yemen while Sudan will also receive the same amount. South Sudan will be allocated 15 million dollars.
Earlier in April, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reported that global food prices were at “a new all-time high”, reaching levels not seen since 1990.
