New York, May 15 (QNA) - Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at OCHA Tom Fletcher said that the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs welcomed the announcement by the United States of an additional $1.8 billion allocation to fund humanitarian operations.
Speaking at a press conference today, Fletcher said the funding helped stabilize the humanitarian support system, which had been under severe pressure. He added that it also strengthened the humanitarian reset initiative on setting clearer priorities, improving efficiency, empowering humanitarian coordinators, and enhancing accountability.
He also said that humanitarian agencies had moved quickly, allocating $1.68 billion to principled, neutral, and needs-based humanitarian operations across 18 crises, to reach more than 22 million people with life-saving assistance. He also noted that the usual allocation period had been halved to ensure that funds reached those in need more quickly.
Fletcher pointed out that more than 90 percent of this support would be directed toward people facing the worst conditions, in line with the United Nations plan to save 87 million people this year.
He added that this is an extremely difficult time for humanitarian workers, who are facing enormous pressure, resource shortages, and increasing attacks.
Fletcher further added that more than 300 million people require humanitarian support while global funding continues to decline. As a result, humanitarian organizations are being stretched to their limits, suffering from severe resource shortages, and are literally coming under attack. (QNA)