Denmark supports UNHCR with USD 10.3 million to refugee emergencies

UNHCR is grateful for Denmark’s continued strong support to refugee emergencies. Denmark is the only donor to contribute with an Emergency Fund at the start of each year of USD 8.8 million (DKK 50.5 million), which is solely at UNHCR's discretion to allocate where the need is the greatest.

Of this year’s Emergency Fund, the remaining USD 4.8 million has been allocated to the Central African Republic crisis with USD 3.8 million, and to the Democratic Republic of Congo crisis with USD 1 million. Furthermore, Denmark recently donated USD 3.6 million (DKK 20 million) to the Syria emergency and USD 1.8 million (DKK 10 million) to the Iraq emergency.

- More than 50 million people have been forced from their homes by war and persecution for the first time since WW II and the needs are enormous. The large acute refugee crises are very underfunded and UNHCR thanks Denmark for its important emergency contributions which will save lives and restore dignity for many people who have been forced to flee their homes, says Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Deputy Regional Representative for Northern Europe.

End 2013, conflict erupted in the Central African Republic and about 680 000 people have been forced to flee to save their lives, more than half a million remaining within the country. The brutal conflict has resulted in nearly 3,000 dead and thousands wounded, many are extremely malnourished and traumatized and require urgent live-saving assistance. The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo has created one of the longest and most acute humanitarian crises in Africa. End of 2013, 4.2 million people were forcibly displaced from their homes and significant resources are needed to alleviate the suffering and assist with basic needs.

Denmark’s contribution will enable UNHCR to continue providing refugees and internally displaced people shelter, water, food, emergency health services and relief supplies. Furthermore, Denmark’s contribution will support UNHCR’s protection work, such as child protection programmes and efforts to address sexual and gender-based violence and exploitation.

Denmark’s contribution towards the Syria crisis will address the urgent needs of the Syrian refugees in neighboring countries, and those that have fled their homes but remain within Syria. The devastating conflict in Syria has entered its fourth year, and the grave humanitarian crisis is growing more dire by the day. Within Syria, 6.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes and Syria’s neighboring countries are hosting 2.9 million Syrian refugees, of which more than half are children.

Moreover, Denmark is supporting UNHCR’s emergency response in Iraq due to the escalated violence beginning of June that has displaced more than 71,184 families. Over 427,000 individuals have been forced to flee their homes and many are living in the open, and need immediate assistance.

Denmark has this year contributed with USD 8.8 million (DKK 50.5 million) through its Emergency Fund to UNHCR. Earlier this year, USD 3 million was allocated to the Central African Republic crisis and USD 1 million to the South Sudan crisis. Denmark is one of UNHCR’s top ten donors.  In 2013, Denmark increased its support to UNHCR considerably and ranked as UNHCR’s 8th largest donor with USD 86.5 million in contribution.

UNHCR is almost entirely funded by voluntary contributions, mostly from governments.

PHOTO: © UNHCR / C. Fohlen / May 2014

New refugees from Central African Republic struggle with ration cuts in southern Chad. Salamatou, 23, receives a reduced food ration for her family consisting of 4.5 kilograms of sorgo (cereals), 0.9 kg of dried beans, 0.75 kg of oil and 0.15 kg of sugar for each refugee. She and her family will have to be creative to make up for a 60 per cent ration cut.

For more information please contact:
Lisa van Hogerlinden,
External Relations Associate
UNHCR Regional Representation for Northern Europe
Email: hogerlin@unhcr.org
Telephone: +46 (0)8-505 888 63