Mr. Chair, 

I am very pleased to address this year’s High-level Conference of the Central Emergency Response Fund. 

The importance of time-critical and life-saving humanitarian assistance has perhaps never been as pertinent as now. This year, humanitarian needs have risen to unprecedented levels, with the health, economic and social impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and creating new ones. 

The CERF’s impressive allocation model makes it particularly well equipped to address this crisis, allowing humanitarian actors to act quickly and direct resources to under-funded emergencies. 

Indeed, the Fund’s strategic role in a world of competing humanitarian emergencies is well established, which is why this year Iceland entered into its second multi-year framework agreement with CERF, allowing for predictable annual allocations to the Fund. 

In line with this framework, I am pleased to confirm Iceland’s allocation to the fund for 2021, in amount of fifty million Icelandic Krona.

In addition, given the unprecedented circumstances we are confronted with, I am happy to announce an additional allocation of 40 million Kronas to the Fund for 2020. This will bring our total contribution this year to 90 million Icelandic Kronas. 

Mr. Chair, 

As a strong advocate for human rights and gender equality, I want to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of a systematic focus on women and girls. There is no denying that in humanitarian crisis, women and girls become increasingly vulnerable to gender-based violence and other forms of exploitation, and when poverty and hunger rises, women and girls are usually negatively affected. COVID-19 has further aggravated the situation.

I would therefore like to conclude by thanking Mr. Lowcock for the CERF’s enhanced focus on these critical issues and ensure you of Iceland´s continued support in this regard. 

I thank you. 

Martin Eyjólfsson, ráðuneytisstjóri í utanríkisráðuneytinu, flutti ávarpið fyrir hönd ráðherra.