American Support for Humanitarian Assistance Reflected in $1.2 Billion Pledge

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Sep 19, 2016, 10:57 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to the UN refugee agency, there are more than 65 million displaced people in the world today, the highest number since World War II. On Sept. 20, President Obama will host a Leaders' Summit on Refugees to address this historical crisis. The leaders in attendance are expected to make significant pledges to assist those affected.

We are witnessing the highest level of forced displacement since WWII and massive human migration away from danger and hardship. At Forum 2016, a high-level group of panelists came together to discuss what factors are driving people to migrate, the fate of those who do decide to move, and what the international community should do to address it.

Ahead of this summit, 31 members of InterAction — the largest U.S. alliance of international nongovernmental organizations — announced their commitment to collectively invest over $1.2 billion in private resources on global humanitarian assistance efforts over the next three years. Through this pledge, the NGOs will work to provide urgent medical assistance, food and nutrition security, shelter, education and other essential services to refugees and displaced populations worldwide.

In a recent article, InterAction CEO Sam Worthington detailed how the InterAction pledge represents the American people's ongoing commitment to assisting those who have been forcibly displaced.

American Support for Humanitarian Assistance Reflected in $1.2 Billion Pledge
By Sam Worthington

I've often traveled to New York for the opening week of the UN General Assembly, but this year I'm honored to join other civil society leaders at President Barack Obama's Leaders' Summit on Refugees. And U.S. civil society, once again, has stepped up to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to helping affected people lift themselves out of hardship in a time of historic humanitarian need.

On Sept. 15, InterAction announced that 31 of its member NGOs had pledged to collectively invest over $1.2 billion in private resources on global humanitarian assistance efforts over the next three years. These funds will assist the participating NGOs with providing urgent medical assistance, food and nutrition security, shelter, education and other essential services to refugees and displaced populations across the globe.

A majority of the $1.2 billion will come from the American people, who have chosen to donate to the participating NGOs. As recent research found, contributions from individuals between 2010 and 2014 accounted for around 69% of all private funding humanitarian funding — more than trusts, foundations or the private sector.

Read Sam Worthington's full article at: www.interaction.org.

InterAction is the largest U.S. alliance of nongovernmental international organizations, with more than 180 members. Our members operate in every developing country, working with local communities to overcome poverty and suffering by helping to improve their quality of life. Visit www.interaction.org.

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SOURCE InterAction