08 December 2009
Gareth Thomas today will today pledge £120m to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) as he warns that climate change could lead to a dramatic increase in the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance because of natural disasters.
The International Development Minister will say that countries on the front line of climate catastrophes must be given the support to ensure they are better prepared for natural disasters.
As the Copenhagen conference enters its third day, Gareth Thomas will warn that the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance each year because of incidents such as hurricanes, typhoons and floods could rise to 375 million from 2015, compared to 250 million per year today.
He will set out five priorities for the humanitarian system ahead of a call for a UN-wide summit in 2010 to reinforce collective political will for humanitarian principles.
Gareth Thomas will also call for a change of culture within the system which would see it focus on being better prepared for disasters and reduce the need for urgent action in the aftermath of an incident.
He will cite the example of Mozambique, where 12 million people are under threat from extreme weather. In 2000, hundreds of thousands of people were left homeless in a flood that caused $450m worth of damage.
In 2007, following a preparedness programme followed by government and citizens, floods claimed the lives of 29 people, compared to 800 in 2000, and no international assistance was requested.
In his speech at the annual CERF pledging conference, Gareth Thomas will praise the work of leaders in crisis responses from UN Humanitarian Co-ordinators but will push for faster deployment of specialists to oversee operations on the ground,
He will say:
“Natural disasters increased fourfold between 1987 and 2007; numbers of people affected by disasters are predicted to rise from 250 million to 375 million by 2015.
“We’ve come a long way but vast needs, more complex challenges and increased threats like climate change, conflict and displacement means money alone is not the answer. The real solution lies in more effective joint working.
“Rapid responses to disasters in the Asia-Pacific were only possible because the humanitarian community, both national and international worked together in ways unimaginable even five years ago when the Asian Tsunami hit.
“Today, we have an opportunity to take stock and build for the future by deepening and widening cooperation.”
Gareth Thomas will say that the five priorities for the humanitarian system are:
Gareth Thomas will also call for funding mechanisms to be improved to ensure that funding reaches countries in need more quickly.
“Following the displacement of citizens in Pakistan earlier this year, money trickled rather than flowed and help was slow in reaching those in need.
This is not good enough. Coordinating response is core business. As Cluster Leaders, UN Agencies must look beyond mandates, develop innovative partnerships and dedicate resources to professional coordination.”
At the end of 2005 the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) sought to improve its ability to respond to such crises by creating the CERF which aimed to hold a total of $450 million to use in crisis situations.
DFID, on behalf of the UK, is the largest single donor to the CERF, contributing £160 million since 2005.
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