Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: CERF Funding Haiti - OCHA
/
2:32
/
MP4
/
186.7 MB

Edited News | OCHA

Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: CERF Funding Haiti - OCHA

The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, has allocated $5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help meet the humanitarian needs caused by gang violence in Haiti.

The funding injection comes amid the killing of hundreds of people in clashes between gangs in Haiti's Cité Soleil since July, the United Nations humanitarian agency (OCHA) spokesperson, Jens Laerke said on Friday. Many others have been trapped in the fighting, which has cut off their access to drinking water, food and health care.

“Overall, we estimate that nearly 280,000 people are affected by this situation” Mr. Laerke added.

Cité Soleil with a current estimated population of around 300,000 is one of the most deprived communes in Port-au-Prince and its humanitarian and development needs were huge even before the current upsurge in violence.

According to the UN, between 8 and 17 July over 471 people were killed, injured or unaccounted for. Serious incidents of sexual violence against women and girls, as well as boys being recruited by gangs, have also been reported.

Around 3,000 people have fled their homes, including hundreds of unaccompanied children, while at least 140 houses have been destroyed or burnt down.

Humanitarian Coordinator, Ulrika Richardson, called on all parties to end the deadly violence and ensure an open humanitarian corridor to Cité Soleil to allow unhindered access to emergency humanitarian and medical assistance, for all residents. She said needs there are “immense and are growing due to poverty, lack of basic services, including security, and a recent spike in violence.

The CERF allocation will help humanitarian agencies increase their response to the situation and funding through the UN Children's fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) will provide food, drinking water, health care, mental health and education support to more than 100,000 people in total, the OCHA spokesperson explained.

Mr. Laerke pointed out that while “it is a small amount,” it is “a critical amount of money right now”. With a high level of insecurity in Haiti, humanitarians’ access to affected people has been compromised, he said. In addition to food or cash distributions, “basic services such as health and education for between 1 million to 1.5 million people” have been “trapped in gang-controlled neighbourhoods in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area”.

According to Mr. Laerke, this year, an estimated 4.9 million Haitians, or about 43 per cent of the total population, need humanitarian assistance. However, “the Haiti humanitarian response plan, asking $373 million, is currently 14 per cent funded,” he warned.

Established by the UN General Assembly in 2005, CERF enables humanitarian responders to deliver life-saving assistance wherever crises strike. Since March 2006, CERF has received pledges and contributions from 126 UN Member States and public and private donors. This has made it possible for humanitarian partners to deliver over $5.5 billion in life-saving assistance in over 100 countries and territories. Mr. Laerke explained that following an injection of money from the CERF, “other donors follow because it comes with a message that this is critical lifesaving interventions we need now.”

The funding comes as UNICEF warn that more than 250,000 children in Haiti do not have access to adequate schools.

Reconstruction has been delayed by insecurity and lack of funds, the UN Agency said in a statement. Of the 1,250 schools that were destroyed or damaged by the earthquake on 14 August 2021, the majority still have not been rebuilt.

At the end of 2021, UNICEF requested $97 million through the 2022 Humanitarian Appeal for Children to reach 950,000 people, including 520,000 children in Haiti. To date, it has only received 30 per cent of the funding needed to meet the basic health, education, nutrition and protection of Haitian children. Without $64.6 million in urgent funding, UNICEF will be unable to aid the most vulnerable in Haiti, the Agency warned.

ENDS

STORY: CERF Funding Haiti (OCHA)
TRT: 02:32”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 19 August 2022, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

1. Exterior wide shot, United Nations flag flying.
2. Wide shot, panel at press briefing.
3. Soundbite: (ENGLISH) Jens Laerke, OCHA spokesperson:
“The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, has allocated $5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help meet the humanitarian needs caused by gang violence in Haiti. Since July, hundreds of people have been killed in clashes between gangs in Haiti's Cité Soleil. Many others have been trapped in the fighting, cutting off their access to drinking water, food and health care.”
4. Close of journalist and camera filming briefing.
5. Soundbite: (ENGLISH) Jens Laerke, OCHA spokesperson:
“Overall we estimate that nearly 280,000 people are affected by this situation. The CEFR allocation will help humanitarian agencies increase their response and funding through UNICEF and WFP our colleagues will provide food, drinking water, health care, mental health and education support to more than 100,000 people in total.”
6. Close of photographer.
7. Soundbite: (ENGLISH) Jens Laerke, OCHA spokesperson:
“ It is a small amount, but it is a critical amount of money right now. So that's the first function of the CERF. The second function of the CERF is more systemic. What often happens when we inject money from the CERF is that other donors follow because it comes, of course, with a message and a signal that this is critical lifesaving interventions we need now. ”
8. Mid of attendees at press briefing.
9. Soundbite: (ENGLISH) Jens Laerke, OCHA spokesperson:
“The high level of insecurity in Haiti is compromising humanitarian access to affected people, for example, for food and cash distributions, but also to basic services such as health and education for between one and one and a half million people trapped in gang-controlled neighbourhoods in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. ”
10. Mid of cameras filming the briefing.
11. Soundbite: (ENGLISH) Jens Laerke, OCHA spokesperson:
“This year, an estimated 4.9 million Haitians, or about 43 per cent of the total population, need humanitarian assistance. Our humanitarian response plan for the country, it's asking $373 million, is currently only 14 per cent funded.”
12. Mid of attendees at briefing.
13. Mid of panel.
14. Mid of attendees at briefing.

Similar Stories

Uganda UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani  urges president to reject bill allowing trials of civilians in military courts

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Uganda UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani urges president to reject bill allowing trials of civilians in military courts ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani today urged Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to reject a bill that was recently endorsed by parliament allowing trials of civilians in military courts. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces Amendment Bill 2025, which was passed on 20 May and now awaits presidential signature to become law, among others broadens the jurisdiction of military courts, authorising them to try a wide range of offences against civilians.

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango: South Sudan: UN human rights chief decries escalating hostilities, arbitrary arrests and hate speech

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango: South Sudan: UN human rights chief decries escalating hostilities, arbitrary arrests and hate speech ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today warned of a further deterioration in the human rights situation in South Sudan at the bi-weekly briefing in Geneva.

Syria humanitarian update OCHA - WHO 23 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Syria humanitarian update OCHA - WHO 23 May 2025 ENG FRA

Syria: ‘Staggering’ needs amid insecurity, health care crisis  - UN humanitarians

Millions of people in Syria continue to face mortal danger from unexploded munitions, disease and malnutrition and urgent support is required, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

Gaza health update - UNRWA - OCHA - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA , OCHA , WHO

Gaza health update - UNRWA - OCHA - WHO ENG FRA

UN life-saving aid allowed to trickle into Gaza as civilian needs mount

Amid calls for more humanitarian trucks to enter the food and medicine-deprived Palestinian enclave of Gaza, UN humanitarians have received permission from Israel for “around 100” more aid trucks to cross into the Strip after only five were let in yesterday,  But the scale of relief efforts allowed remains entirely insufficient to meet the urgent needs of people there, humanitarian workers say.

Press vests becoming a target - war reporter Christina Assi

1

1

1

Edited News

Press vests becoming a target - war reporter Christina Assi ENG FRA

A war reporter from Lebanon who lost a limb in the line of duty is calling for an end to impunity for attacks against journalists.

ITU 160th Anniversary - 17 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | ITU

ITU 160th Anniversary - 17 May 2025 ENG FRA

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) commemorated 160 years dedicated to connecting the world on Saturday, 17 May in Geneva, Switzerland, during the annual World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

Gaza humanitarian update – WHO, OCHA 16 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , OCHA

Gaza humanitarian update – WHO, OCHA 16 May 2025 ENG FRA

Gazans ‘in terror’ after another night of deadly strikes and siege

Amid reports that Israeli strikes across Gaza into Friday killed at least 64 people, aid teams once again pushed back strongly at allegations that aid is being diverted to Hamas and pleaded for the blockade to end.

UN Human Rights raises human rights concerns about deportations from the United States of America

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights raises human rights concerns about deportations from the United States of America ENG FRA

Deportations over recent months of large numbers of non-nationals from the United States of America, especially to countries other than those of their origin, raise a number of human rights concerns, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned on Tuesday.   

Gaza health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO ENG FRA

Gaza: Over 50 child malnutrition deaths amid aid blockade; entire generation will be ‘permanently affected’ - WHO

In the aid desert of Gaza, malnourished children are dying while survivors can expect a lifetime of dire health problems, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO 09 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , UNICEF , UNRWA

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO 09 May 2025 ENG FRA

Israel’s aid plan will force Gaza families to choose ‘between displacement and death’ – UN humanitarians

Israel’s plan to take control of relief assistance in Gaza risks increasing the suffering of families already exhausted by 18 months of war by putting their lives in danger and inciting more displacement, using aid as “bait”, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

Gaza humanitarian blockade  OCHA - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Gaza humanitarian blockade OCHA - WHO ENG FRA

UN Humanitarians reject Israeli plan to take over aid delivery

The reported Israeli proposal to deliver humanitarian supplies through hubs controlled by the military would be a breach of the core principles of neutral, impartial and independent aid delivery, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said on Tuesday.

 

Gaza two months blockade - OCHA 02 MAY 2025

1

1

1

Edited News , B-roll | OCHA

Gaza two months blockade - OCHA 02 MAY 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: ‘Worst-case scenario’ unfolds as two-month aid blockade deepens suffering - OCHA

Two months into a devastating aid blockade of Gaza food has run out and people are fighting over water amid relentless bombing, the UN’s humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) said on Friday.

/Includes OCHA footage from Gaza City/