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Private sector aids humanitarian work with donations to Central Emergency Response Fund

(New York, 8 October 2009): Private sector leaders in the Middle East are stepping up to help the United Nations and its partners respond to the humanitarian fallout from storms, earthquakes, floods and droughts through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

A humanitarian fund established by the United Nations to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts, CERF provides a unique opportunity for the private sector to ensure that its funds will go where they are most needed in the network of international aid organizations. Those include organizations such as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Fund is managed, on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General, by the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), John Holmes, Head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The Fund allows the UN to react immediately when a disaster strikes by funding life-saving activities by eligible agencies. "Rarely a week goes by without us providing resources for emergency assistance and we need to make sure that the CERF never runs dry," said John Holmes. "That is why the UN calls upon countries, companies, foundations and private individuals to support CERF as generously as they can."

Companies such as TAQA, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Western Union and HSBC-Middle East are contributing to the CERF. "We first gave to CERF because we wanted to support relief operations in Gaza but we have since realized that with CERF, our donation went much further than Gaza," explained Peter Barker-Homek, CEO TAQA. "Not only have we helped Palestinians but we have also helped people caught up in conflicts and disasters in 24 other countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen. Our employees and shareholders are proud to have such a global impact."

"CERF is an easy, effective and transparent way to support international relief efforts. By pooling resources, donors can maximize the impact of their contributions. We are constantly reminded that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts," Barker-Homek added.

For further information, please call: OCHA-New York: Stephanie Bunker, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 347 244 2106, bunker@un.org; Nicholas Reader, +1 212 963 4961, mobile +1 646 752 3117, reader@un.org, John Nyaga, +1 917- 367-9262, mobile +1 917-318-8917, nyagaj@un.org OCHA-Geneva: Elisabeth Byrs, +41 22 917 2653, mobile +41 79 473 4570, byrs@un.org OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int For more information about CERF, please see http://cerf.un.org

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