Remarks by H.E. Mr. Margus Kolga, Permanent Representative of Estonia at High-Level Conference 2012 Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)

11.12.2012

Mrs. Chairwoman,

First of all, I would like to thank you for your tremendous work and personal commitment to coordinate and ensure effective and timely humanitarian response in crises. I also would like to thank you for your advocacy of the neutrality and impartiality of humanitarian aid, the importance of granting humanitarian aid access to people in need, and the issue of safety of humanitarian aid workers in the field. We have all witnessed your remarkable work during the Syrian crisis, and highly appreciate your efforts to coordinate aid delivery under exceptionally difficult circumstances.

Estonia values highly the improved coordination capacity of OCHA in coordinating emergency humanitarian assistance and acknowledges the importance of CERF to enable timely humanitarian assistance in accordance with humanitarian principles to those affected by natural disasters or complex emergencies.

Estonia was one of the founding donors to the CERF to support fast delivery of humanitarian assistance. Estonia has increased its contribution to CERF during the years more than four-fold. I am glad to announce the Estonian contribution for 2013 in amount of 80,000 euros. With the aim to assure predictability of funds, we have transferred this contribution already to CERF account. 

Thank you, Madame Chair.