Central African Republic: Common Humanitarian Fund releases $9 million to respond to urgent needs [EN/SG]

(Bangui, 1 February 2016): The country-based Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) in the Central African Republic (CAR) has launched US$9 million allocation for life-saving assistance to people displaced by violence, returnees, refugees and vulnerable host communities. This allocation will aim at funding projects responding to critical and urgent humanitarian needs to improve access of affected populations to basic services and contribute to reducing violence in and among communities. Projects including in their project design a knowledge transfer component for national NGOs will be prioritized.
The inclusion of gender considerations and the mainstreaming of protection in each and every funded project will be required.

“Our priority through this CHF funding is to bring life-saving assistance to the people mostly affected by the crisis: This funding will help humanitarian organizations to provide clean water and sanitation, camp management of IDP sites, education, healthcare, food and immediate livelihoods support, nutrition, protection and shelter and non-food items (NFI).” said Mr Aurélien A. Agbénonci, Humanitarian Coordinator in CAR.

This first standard 2016 allocation of the multi-donor funding mechanism amounting US$9 to United Nations agencies and non-government organizations will respond to the most critical humanitarian needs in the country. With a projected 2.3 million people in direct need of urgent humanitarian assistance, such support is critical.

“It is vitally important that the international community is able to respond rapidly to the most urgent humanitarian needs in CAR. Thanks to donors who have contributed to this CHF allocation that allows partners to help alleviate suffering and continue providing live-saving assistance to thousands of displaced people and host families in desperate need.” added Mr Agbénonci, The multi donor funding mechanism CHF was established in 2008. Managed by OCHA, it aims to provide rapid and flexible financing to the most critical humanitarian needs. As of end of January 2016, the Fund has received US$ 2.9 million in contributions from Belgium and Sweden. In 2015, a total amount of US$24.9 million was funded from the governments of Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom making the CHF the HRP fifth largest source of funding in the country.

For further information please contact: Gemma Cortes, Head of Public Information, +236 70087565, cortesg@un.org Laura Fultang, Public Information Officer, fultang@un.org OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.