Norway commits to increasing funding allocation to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

(New York/Geneva, 7 December 2009): United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes and Norway's State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Gry Larsen, today signed a multi-year funding agreement for 2010-2013, in which the Government of Norway commits to a gradually increasing funding allocation for humanitarian assistance to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over the next four years.

OCHA welcomes this agreement as an important signal of the need to continue to support vital humanitarian relief efforts even in times of financial difficulties. Humanitarian needs have not decreased during the global financial crisis. Rather, they continue to be exacerbated by the challenges posed by climate change, rapid urbanisation and ongoing conflicts.

"This agreement further confirms Norway's position as a good humanitarian donor - giving funding in a predictable, flexible and timely manner, to facilitate quick and efficient response to humanitarian emergencies," said Mr. Holmes. "I hope other donors will follow Norway's example," he added.

Norway is one of OCHA's top five donors, after Sweden, United Kingdom, United States and the European Commission. Norwegian contributions to OCHA in 2009 totaled over US$10 million. Norway has also been among the top five supporters to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) since its inception, having contributed over $183 million to the Fund since 2006.

For further information, please call: OCHA-New York: Stephanie Bunker, +1 347 244 2106, mobile +1 347 244 2106, bunker@un.org; Nicholas Reader +1 212 963 4961, mobile +1 646 752 3117, reader@un.org; John Nyaga,+ 1 917 367 9262, mobile +1 917 318 8917, nyagaj@un.org; OCHA-Geneva: Elisabeth Byrs,+41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570, byrs@un.org.