Governments urged to continue supporting UN emergency fund

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Governments have been urged to continue supporting a UN emergency fund for humanitarian disasters.

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) was created in 2005 to respond rapidly to emergencies caused by disaster and conflict around the world.

Member states, the private sector and individuals all contribute to the fund the annual target for which is $450 million.

Speaking at the end of a two-day high-level meeting in New York on Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said money given to CERF was "money well spent".

"It is guaranteed to go to the people who need it most, in time to make a difference. CERF is a United Nations success story. I thank you for the generous support that has made CERF possible, and I urge you to continue to contribute the much-needed funds that are – literally – life or death for hundreds of thousands of the world's most vulnerable people." (Duration: 27")

Since it was established six years ago, CERF has provided more than $2 billion to humanitarian agencies working in 82 countries and territories.