Statement: Announcement of New Funding Mechanism for Humanitarian Disasters

OTTAWA, Oct. 14, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Humanitarian Coalition is proud to announce the creation of the Canadian Humanitarian Assistance Fund (CHAF). This new funding stream will increase the ability of our member agencies to respond to underfunded small-scale disasters and emergencies throughout the world.

The CHAF is funded by the International Humanitarian Assistance Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD). It is managed by the Humanitarian Coalition, Canada's only joint appeal mechanism. The funds in the CHAF's pool of $2,000,000 CAD are allocated to member agencies of the Humanitarian Coalition following an established, project-based application process.

Many disasters are too small in size to generate a response from the established international humanitarian system. As a result, funding is scarce and the humanitarian needs of affected people often go unmet. With their global presence, Humanitarian Coalition member agencies are often already present in disaster areas and are well placed to respond quickly if resources can be mobilized. Recognizing this, DFATD and the Humanitarian Coalition worked together to develop an innovative mechanism of which Canadians can be proud.

"The CHAF is a welcome addition of resources that will support our member agencies as they address lower-profile disasters which do not make headlines. As a leader in Canada's humanitarian sector, the Humanitarian Coalition is always looking for ways to enhance our capacity to reach vulnerable people who need our help," said Nicolas Moyer, the organization's Executive Director. "This will save more lives."

Together, we can finance and deploy timely responses where local capacity alone is not enough to provide relief.

For details of the first projects funded by the CHAF, please see: http://humanitariancoalition.ca/our-appeals/responding-to-smaller-disasters

The Humanitarian Coalition is Canada's only joint appeal mechanism for humanitarian assistance. It is comprised of CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec, Plan Canada and Save the Children Canada. With a combined presence in more than 120 countries, we bring together Canada's leading aid agencies to finance relief efforts in times of international humanitarian crises. We work together to eliminate unnecessary competition, reduce the duplication of fundraising costs, and inform the public on humanitarian needs. The Humanitarian Coalition is a member of the Emergency Appeals Alliance, which is made up of similar humanitarian networks from eight countries. Follow us on twitter (https://twitter.com/humcoalition) and facebook (https://www.facebook.com/humanitariancoalitionhumanitaire ).

SOURCE: Humanitarian Coalition

Nicolas Moyer, Executive Director, Humanitarian Coalition, 613-239-2154 ext. 3