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We're sorry, this alert is no longer available. If you would like to learn more about ways you can take action, please visit Oxfam America's eCommunity.The short explanation of this alert was:
Over the last year, the world has been engulfed in disasters from the Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, to droughts and fires in Portugal, floods in Romania, famine in Niger, and the recent Earthquake in Pakistan. We have seen how poor people have been disproportionately affected by these emergencies.
One way to ensure a timely response to crises is by setting up a Global Emergency Fund that would immediately disburse money when countries face a severe and sudden need. Right now, the UN must wait until after a disaster has occurred to raise the money it needs to respond—a situation Secretary General Kofi Annan likens to a fire chief who, when notified of a fire, has to then go out and buy a fire engine.
The UN General Assembly is currently discussing the Global Emergency Fund. Oxfam America believes that donor governments should make explicit funding commitments as soon as possible so that the Fund can be used in 2006. Seven governments—the UK, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ireland—have already made such a commitment. The US Government has not yet made a commitment to the Fund.
Write President Bush and encourage him to not only support the expansion of the Global Emergency Fund, but also to ensure that the US makes a fair contribution to the fund. By doing so, millions of lives can be saved.
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