UN establishes Ukraine Humanitarian Pooled Fund
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Ursula Mueller made a corresponding statement at the meeting of the UN Security Council on the Humanitarian Situation in Ukraine on February 12, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.
“We are establishing an innovative funding mechanism to support the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) efforts—the Ukraine Humanitarian Pooled Fund—to address acute needs that are least funded. I welcome the contributions made by donors to this Fund. I urge others to join,” Mueller said.
“Today’s discussion gives us an opportunity to once again draw attention to the humanitarian consequences of the conflict. As long as political discussions continue, we should not forget the human face of this crisis and its impact on the civilian population, ordinary people who experience its consequences every day,” she said.
The newly established Ukraine Humanitarian Pooled Fund is part of the so-called Country-based Pooled Funds, which allow donors - governments, international and non-governmental organizations - to make their contributions for local humanitarian efforts. Thus, the funds can reach humanitarian partners in conflict zones on time, in a coordinated and targeted manner.
The representatives of the delegations of Sweden and Lithuania in their speeches reported that their governments had already made contributions to the Fund. In particular, the Government of Sweden donated $1 million.
Summing up, Muller added that the this year UN required $162 million to provide aid to 2.3 million people, through the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan. The Plan focuses on protection of affected people, and on restoring their access to livelihoods, essential services and critical structures.
