Russia will contribute $1.5 million to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in 2019, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Chumakov said on Friday, Trend reports referring to TASS.
Chumakov confirmed that Russia "will remain one of CERF's main donors and supporters." "Russian contributions approved by the Russian government in 2015 guarantee the reliable character of our commitments, which is particularly important for long-term planning," the diplomat added. "In accordance with this, we will contribute $1.5 million to the fund in 2019. We hope that these money will be used to resolve critical situations in countries that need it the most," he added.
Chumakov praised the work of the fund and its leadership. "This is one of most progressive and effective mechanisms of supporting UN efforts on the humanitarian track," the diplomat noted. "Donor contributions are flexible, allowing the fund's executives to distribute them promptly and effectively, and to use them to save lives and meet critical needs of those who does not enjoy as much attention from the donor community," he stressed. Chumakov said that Moscow supports proposals for CERF to reach the budget of $1 billion.