Consolidated Interagency Appeals for 2005,
Statement by Piper Campbell, Counselor for Humanitarian Affairs
United States Mission Geneva
January 11, 2005

Even before the terrible earthquake and tsunami hit the Asian region, my government was strongly committed to addressing the humanitarian needs of people affected by war and other disasters. The U.S. provided 968 million dollars worth of food assistance through WFP and over $850 million in funding to other UN agencies in our fiscal year 2004. This assistance was complemented by significant contributions to non-governmental organizations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and other international organizations. It included support to a diverse range of humanitarian crises -- those with which we are very familiar and those which receive much less attention.

The Consolidated Appeal (CAP) process reflects the UN agencies’ effort to plan and implement as a united group, coordinated internally and with the wider humanitarian community. Now, more than ever, we understand the critical importance of coordination – both of UN and other agencies’ activities and of donors’ funding intentions.

As we will meet later today to discuss the Tsunami Flash appeal, I focus here on the range of other emergencies covered in the 14 appeals and three country plans launched earlier by OCHA. I have three key points:

First, bringing (and keeping) world attention on those other needs has become even more essential to ensure that Sudan, Somalia, the Great Lakes region and other world-wide appeals are not forgotten. The U.S. Government – working primarily through the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department’s Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration – will play its part. PRM will continue its strong support for its traditional partners UNHCR, UNRWA, ICRC and IOM – who we are pleased to see increasingly working with the CAP structure. Meanwhile, USAID will continue to be a strong supporter of WFP, OCHA, UNICEF and FAO – as well as working with NGO partners.

Second, the CAP process continues to improve. We view this as one of OCHA’s key accomplishments over recent years. We welcome the improved prioritization of humanitarian activities through the CAP, as well as the inclusion of initiatives to bolster the transition from relief to development, where appropriate. We also welcome the Good Humanitarian Donorship Initiative that supports and promotes the central and unique role of the United Nations in providing leadership and co-ordination of international humanitarian action. It also recognizes the Consolidated Appeals process as the most effective way for donors to harmonize their funding plans and practices. Funding based on need is a core principle of the initiative, and, together with partner agencies, we are improving our ability to assess the needs of the people we seek to help. To this end, we encourage the Inter-Agency Standing Committee to continue its efforts to design a comprehensive, clear framework for assessing and analyzing humanitarian needs.

Third, we hope to see even stronger links between the CAP and the global appeals of UNHCR, WFP and UNICEF, as well as enhanced coordination with humanitarian non-governmental organizations. We have full confidence that Mr. Egeland’s leadership will further the integrity, reliability and utility of the CAP mechanism and we welcome his presence here today.