London, Europe Brief News – The UN’s humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths warned that billions of dollars pledged to tackle the climate crisis did not reach poorer countries.
Griffiths said he did not know where the promised $100bn (£87bn) a year to fight the impact of global heating in poorer countries had gone.
He further called for greater transparency around climate finance.
“The truth of the matter is that we are scrambling to try to understand where the promised climate money. Where is it? Who’s holding it? And who is not delivering it to places like Somalia?” Griffiths also said.
“Somalis are the victims of our behaviour, thus the victims of our habits – not of theirs. And yet we haven’t even managed to get to them the money that we pledged nobly some time ago.”
The UN has warned that a state of famine is likely to be declared in areas of Somalia by the end of the year as the country continues to struggle with drought and flare-ups of conflict.
Griffiths said he had “failed” to get an answer when he asked governments about climate financing.
Griffiths’ criticism of the opaque financing system adds to growing calls from African countries and campaigners for greater transparency and easier access to the promised money.
