UNifeed: UN / CERF WRAP

UN / CERF WRAP

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says that in the short time since its formation, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has become "an established part of the humanitarian architecture", using $340 million in 45 countries last year alone to help "millions of people in need". UNTV / FILE

Duration:02:43Date:09 December 2009

Categories:

HUMANITARIAN AID AND RELIEF, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

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Full Script

STORY: UN / CERF WRAP
SOURCE: UNTV/ PAHO/ WHO/ WFP
TRT: 2.43
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 9 DECEMBER 2009, NEW YORK CITY/ FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1.     Wide shot, exterior UN building

9 DECEMBER 2009, NEW YORK CITY

2.     Wide shot, ECOSOC chambers
3.     Wide shot, dais
4.     Pan right, delegates
5.     SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General:
“In just a short time, CERF has become an established part of the humanitarian architecture, helping agencies to deliver results on the ground, wherever and whenever needed most. This year alone, UN humanitarian teams in more than 45 countries have used some $340 million in CERF funding to help millions of people in need. CERF funds are available immediately, so agencies can kick-start their operations.”
6.     Wide shot, ECOSOC chambers
7.     Wide shot, Thomas  arrives at press conference dais
8.     SOUNDBITE (English) Gareth Thomas MP, UK Minister of State for International Development:
“The UN needs to look at its own funding arrangements already and think through how it can release more of its, more money from its back office functions for the frontline. So, for example, why does every UN agency need its own procurement function?  Why does every UN agency need its own human resources function?  its own security section? There must be opportunities to substantially reduce the back office functions of UN agencies in order to release savings for the frontline.”
9.     Med shot, reporters
10.     Wide shot, dais
11.     Tracking shot, Holmes walks to the microphone
12.     SOUNDBITE (English) John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs:
“We were able to raise in pledges already for 2010 some 424 million dollars. That is more than we raised in any similar pledging meeting before, so that’s extremely encouraging, particularly when you consider that we are doing that against the background of a major economic and financial crisis which has affected the budgets of many donor countries in a very significant way. So, obviously we are extremely pleased by that. I am confident that we will be able to raise the rest of the funds we need to reach the 450 million dollar target in 2010.”
13.     Tracking shot, Holmes walks away from the microphone

FILE – WHO – 2005, MUZAFFARABAD, PAKISTAN

14.     Various shots, patient care and damage following the 8 Oct 2005 earthquake

FILE – PAHO – AUGUST 2007, PISCO, PERU

15.     Tilt down, hospital damaged by earthquake

FILE – WHO – 2008, CHINA

16.     Various shots, rescue teams

FILE – WFP - 25 APRIL 2009, BULENGO IDP CAMP, GOMA, NORTH KIVU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

17.     Various shots, WFP food distribution to 18,000 internally displaced people (IDPs)
18.     Various shots, IDP camp

STORYLINE

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed to global donors today (9 December) to give generously to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), one of the world’s leading tools for disaster response, whether in sudden-onset emergencies like earthquakes or for ongoing but neglected crises.

Ban told the Fund’s annual pledging conference that in the short time since its formation CERF has become “an established part of the humanitarian architecture”, using $340 million in 45 countries last year alone to help “millions of people in need” and warned that the effects of climate change are compounding emergency needs.

Citing successes of the Fund, he said CERF this year enabled the speedy relocation of 13,000 Somali refugees in Kenya, averting the risk of epidemics when rains threatened to worsen conditions in their camp.

At a press conference after meeting Ban, British Minister of State for International Development Gareth Thomas said that the UN “needs to look at its own funding arrangements” in order to release more of its money “from its back office functions for the frontline” arguing that the Organization should be able to consolidate some of its functions.  
Later in the afternoon Humanitarian Coordinator John Holmes told reporters that 424 million dollars had been pledged so far, which he said was “extremely encouraging, particularly when you consider that we are doing that against the background of a major economic and financial crisis”. He expressed confidence that the 450 million dollar target for 2010 will be reached.

The CERF was set up in 2006 to jump-start relief operations by providing funds within days and saving thousands of lives that would otherwise be lost to delay under the then under-funded $50-million mechanism.

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