OCHA Potential Contribution from the 2026 UN International Bazaar

Good morning, Your Excellencies, Permanent Representatives to the United Nations, Ms. Sekwi, and your distinguished representatives of UNHCR, esteemed members of the UNDSC Board, members of the UNIB Organizing Committee, simply ladies and gentlemen. My name is Cecilia Milambo from Zambia and President of the United Nations Delegation Spouses Club for the years 2024 to 2026. It is my extreme pleasure to welcome you to this check presentation ceremony, and without further ado, I'll now call on our Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs representative to speak to us this morning.

Thank you. Thank you so much and good morning, ladies and gentlemen, excellencies. It's really a great pleasure to be here today on behalf of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. USG Fletcher sends his warm regards from Istanbul, where there is a meeting of humanitarian and resident coordinators from across the world, which is why he couldn't be here today. I just want to recognize the UN Delegation Spouses Club. Cecilia, if I may informally extend my sincere thanks to you as president and to the entirety of your board and club for your dedication and generosity. The spouses of delegates to the UN play a very important and meaningful role in humanitarian action. Each year, your generosity and dedication through, among other things, the proceeds from the annual bazaar are channeled towards a cause. I want to say also as a UN staff member that the bazaar itself is a remarkable tradition that brings together the UN community and its visitors in support of people affected by crises and is a beautiful sign of unity and of so many of the values that the UN stands I want to thank you for the chance to be here. I know there are other colleagues who will talk, and maybe I will have a chance to say some things at the end, but I just wanted to warmly thank you for hosting this meeting.

Thank you, Alice. If I may, at this point we will show a video from our patron, who is also the spouse of our Secretary-General. Madam Ekaterina Vaspinto.

United Nations International Design Day is an event that we look forward to all year. It is a time to come together to celebrate our diverse cultures and cuisines and to make a real difference for those in need. Every dollar raised will help provide humanitarian support to families across the globe. This event showcases both the richness of our traditions and the common values that unite us: compassion, respect, and above all, solidarity. Thank you to all the member states who have donated prizes and to the organizers and participants who have made the event possible. Let's learn from each other. Let's talk, eat, and share. And remember that when we work together, the world becomes a better place. Thank you very much.

Obrigada. One was grateful for that video. That was our promotional video that we sent around, and we're grateful that our patron recognized the works that we do and those of your humanitarian works that Orchard does. At this point, we'll show a video, a screening of what UN OCHA does around the globe.

Around the world, when crises hit, no matter the danger, no matter the cost, OCHA is on the ground. With offices in more than 50 countries, we work fearlessly and proudly to help save lives. We talk to the men with guns to get aid across. To those in the hallways of power to push for peace. We coordinate humanitarian aid, advocate for people in need, work with local communities and frontline responders, mobilize funds and raise awareness. We make humanitarian action happen. We are OCHA.

I think that's a great summary of what OCHA does around the world. At this point, I will invite our Vice President, Madam Emine Yüldız of Turkey, to say a few words.

Good morning, distinguished guests, His Excellencies, and dear friends. My name is Emine Yıldız, Turkish PRS wife, and I am Vice President of UNDSC. We are gathering here today to present a significant portion of the proceeds raised through the highly successful United Nations International Bazaar. This contribution reflects the generosity, solidarity, and collective spirit of the international community. First, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who made it possible for this check presentation ceremony to be broadcast live through the UN website, allowing our message of humanitarian support to reach our— a wider audience. I would also like to extend a special thank you to the Chief of Cabinet, His Excellency, for the invaluable guiding and support provided through this process, and to the United Nations security team for their professionalism and assistance in ensuring the smooth execution of our event. Our heartfelt appreciation goes to all participating permanent missions and delegations whose institution commitment and collaboration made this year's bazaar such an outstanding success. Finally, I would like to recognize and thank the members of the UN DSC Executive Board for their dedication hard work, and countless hours of volunteer service. Their commitment and teamwork were instruments in making this Beard Bazaar one of our most successful events. Thank you all for your support and for helping us making meaningful difference in the life of those who need.

Thank you. Thank you, Amina. I'll also take this opportunity to address you all as outgoing President of UNDSC. All protocols observed from my earlier remarks, it is a profound honor and privilege to address you today as we celebrate the enduring legacy of the United Nations Delegation Spouses Club, UNDSC, an organization that for the past 63 years has fostered friendship, cultural understanding, and meaningful engagement within the rich and diverse multilateral community of the United Nations. Since 2014, the United Nations International Bazaar, UNIB, has been organized by UNDS— UNDSC in partnership with an extraordinary organizing committee comprising spouses of permanent representatives, permanent missions, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters. Over the years, the bazaar has grown into one of the most anticipated and celebrated events on the United Nations calendar, bringing together the international community in a spirit of solidarity, generosity, and cultural exchange. One of the greatest privileges of my presidency has been witnessing that continued growth and success of the United Nations International Bazaar. The Bazaar stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when individuals and missions unite around a common humanitarian purpose. I am delighted to share that the proceeds from the 2025 Bazaar exceeded $80,000, while the 2026 Bazaar reached the remarkable milestone of over $90,000. These achievements were made possible through the unwavering dedication, generosity, and commitment of participating permanent missions, members of the organizing committee, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters. Together, we have demonstrated that collective action, guided by compassion and solidarity, can create a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of those that— of those most in need. A particularly significant moment this year was our meeting with the leadership of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNOCHA, including the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Tom Fletcher, and his distinguished team. It was our great honor to present our proposal to dedicate the proceeds of the 2026 United Nations International Bazaar to the Central Emergency Response Fund, CERF. We were deeply inspired by the scale, reach, and life-saving impact of OCHA's humanitarian work across the globe. Learning more about the critical role played by CERF in responding swiftly to humanitarian emergencies strengthened our conviction that the proceeds of the bazaar could contribute meaningfully to alleviating suffering and supporting vulnerable communities worldwide. On behalf of UNDSC, I extend our heartfelt appreciation to UNOCHA for graciously accepting our proposal and for the opportunity to support such an essential humanitarian mechanism. We look forward to seeing this partnership flourish in the years ahead. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our patron and the spouse of the Secretary-General, Madame Catarina Vaz Pinto, for her video message promoting humanitarian works, the Deputy Secretary-General, Her Excellency Amina J. Mohammed, and the most recent President of the General Assembly, Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock, for officially opening the Bazaar this year. Chef de Cabernet, His Excellency Courtney Rattray and his team, Permanent Representatives to the United Nations, diplomatic community, UN Global Communications, UN Facilities, UNDSS, the entire UN DSC Board, the Bazaar Organizing Committee, our volunteers, sponsors, supporters, and all participating permanent missions, including the Permanent Mission of Zambia, for their support. And lastly, but not the least, my dear spouse, His Excellency Dr. Chola Milambo, and our endearing children for their enthusiastic unwavering support during my tenure. As my term as President draws to a close, I do so with immense pride in all that we have accomplished together and with great confidence in the future of our organization. It is therefore my distinct pleasure to announce the incoming President, of UN DSC, Madam Nandita Pavathaneni of India. Over the course of the past two International Bazaars, I have had the privilege of working closely with Madam Pavathaneni and witnessing firsthand her dedication, creativity, and unwavering commitment to the mission of our club. Her invaluable contributions have helped shape Some of our club— her invaluable contributions have helped shape some of our most meaningful initiatives, including the vision to engage with UNOCHA in support of CEF and the idea of preserving and showcasing the legacy and achievements of UNDSC through platforms such as UN Web TV, where we all are right now. These initiatives reflect her forward-thinking approach and deep appreciation for the importance of both humanitarian outreach and institutional memory. I am confident that her leadership and dedication will guide UNDSC to even greater accomplishments in the years ahead. I kindly ask that you extend to her the same friendship, encouragement, and steadfast support that you have so generously bestowed upon me. Throughout my tenure. Serving as your president has been one of the greatest honors of my diplomatic journey. The friendships forged, the experiences shared, and the achievements realized together will remain among my most treasured memories. And now I'm getting emotional. Excuse me. As I conclude, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to every member of UNDSC, the board, the organizing committee, our volunteers, sponsors, supporters, and the permanent missions whose commitment and generosity have made our success possible. Together, we have strengthened a proud tradition of friendship, service, and international solidarity that will continue to inspire future generations. Thank you for your trust, your collaboration, and your unwavering commitment to the values and the mission of UNDSC. I'll take a bow. Thank you. At this stage, we'll invite the incoming president to say a few words to us.

UNOCHA team, Cecilia, and friends from UNDSC, permanent representatives of various countries present here, other friends and well-wishers of UNDSC, all those who have helped to make the UN International Bazaar 2026 a success. At the outset, I welcome you to this check presentation ceremony of the proceeds of UN International Bazaar to UN OCHA Surf. This function would not have been possible without UNOCHA's encouragement to my idea of making it our principal partner in receiving the proceeds of our charity bazaar. There can be no better organization than UNOCHA for helping vulnerable communities in distress and conflict situations around the world. I remain grateful to Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, His Excellency Mr. Thomas Fletcher, for supporting this idea and consenting to host this check presentation ceremony with UN webcast. I look forward to strengthening this partnership between UNDSC and UNOCHA in the year ahead and working closely with them. Once again, many thanks to the UNOCHA team.

Thank you. And now the moment we've all been waiting for, to know exactly what all our hard work produced. I call upon our Treasurer, Mrs. Ranjoo Batra, who's the lead for the Finance Committee, and she worked closely with our incoming President, Nandita Parpathaneni, and Amelie Tarakinikini of Fiji. Madams.

Thank you, dear Cecilia. President, incoming President Nanditha Parvathanani, members of the board, UN, and Your Excellencies. I was honored to serve on the inaugural planning committee of the International Bazaar in 2014, an initiative of Mrs. Ban, wife of then-Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and have served as treasurer since then. Bazaar brings together missions and the UN community to raise funds that support humanitarian causes around the world. I am delighted that this year the proceeds will be channeled through OSHA to assist those affected by humanitarian crisis. Thank you to all participating missions and donors and volunteers for their support. My 3 volunteers did amazing job, and they are Perina Tarakinikini, right there. That is our board member Amela's daughter, who is on my finance. Ayushi Patipati, Nandita's daughter. And Sila Yildiz, Amina's daughter. So now, with the members of my finance committee, I give you the report. They have told me I could read the whole report myself instead of each one participating. So thank you. This year we grossed $92,149 even. Minus expenses, $8,305.10. That gives us net of $83,843.90., and out of that, donation to OCHA, $80,000.

Thank you very much.

I'm done with my report. Back to you guys.

Well, that's symbolic. Ranju is the numbers lady, straight to the point. That's it. Okay. And at this point, I'll ask you to stand and receive the check on behalf of UNHCR. I'll ask all board members to join us as we present the check to UNHCR. Come in. Let's balance to be good.

One more person on that side.

All right, keep looking. All right, now one close up. Alice would like to say a few words after receiving the check, and after that we'll have a group photo and a vote of thanks from Alia Leuca of the Republic of Moldova.

Great, thank you so much, Cecilia. And I just— now that the formal announcement has been made, I did need to express on behalf again of OCHA and of our wider team just our deep, deep appreciation for your donation and your support, which is a testament to the spirit and the purpose of your work. I want to say that your contribution, and I can assure you of this, will help deliver truly life-saving assistance for communities affected from— by crises all over the world, from Latin America and the Caribbean to the African continent to Asia and the Pacific and the Middle East. Our teams work daily and nightly to make sure that these resources get to where they need to be, when they need to be. And one of the greatest —things about the Central Emergency Response Fund is that we are there responding to the unpredictable nature of our world, and we're there in support of all member states and all communities that require assistance. The one thing I can guarantee is no matter where the resources go, they will go to the most vulnerable. That is definitely our commitment. Last year, we allocated $435 million across 35 contexts, from supporting people displaced by conflict, floods-affected communities, people affected by hurricanes, where we actually got the assistance out even before the hurricane hit. We're getting faster and better at anticipating emergencies and also You know, CERF is currently responding to the Ebola crisis that we're seeing unfold in countries in the DRC and— for now. So just to say a big thank you. We deeply value our partnership with this group, and we really appreciate the work that goes into the bazaar and, you know, take it with great responsibility. To transform your donation to making a lasting difference for the people we serve, to bring hope, to bring support year after year. And we just want to again thank you for your solidarity and looking forward to continuing this collaboration.

We'll switch that a little bit, please. Could we have the vote of thanks? And after that, we will have a group photo together.

Distinguished OCHA team, Excellencies, Madam President, Madam President, good morning and thank you all for being here today for this important occasion that has already been mentioned several times, which marks the successful conclusion of a year of diligent and highly rewarding work that the United Nations Delegation Spouses Club has led. On behalf of UNDSC, I would like to once again express our sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to the outstanding success of this year's International Bazaar, making today's donation possible. The funds raised reflect the dedication and generosity of the diplomatic community at the United Nations in support of humanitarian crisis relief efforts led by United Nations Office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs. We are honored, as everybody has already mentioned, to present this contribution as a symbol of our partnership and our shared commitment to humanitarian action. And in closing, I would like to extend special thanks to our outgoing president, Madam Cecilia Milambo. whose remarkable leadership has guided us to this achievement. And to express the appreciation to our incoming president, Madam Nandita Parvataneni, as she takes on this important role, and wish her every success in it. I would like to thank once again each and everyone and each of everyone who has contributed for continued support and engagement.

We've come to the end of our cheque presentation ceremony. Thank you so much, everyone, for coming. It just shows your dedication to the very end. And for your own information, the next bazaar is on June 1st, 2027, so start preparing. We have a lot of work to do. UNOCHA is counting on us. At this stage, thank you, Your Excellencies. We appreciate your being here. We understand you have busy schedules. Thank you again for taking time to come. Of course, Mr. Ravi Batra, thank you so much for your support. The program has come to an end. Let us take that group photo together. There's a suggestion to take the photo outside. It's less crowded.

I think they have a meeting. There's one more— there's one more check. There's one more check to give. We had announced that we would give to UNHCR and select nonprofits, and so it is our honor and pleasure to present the check to His Excellency Tara Kinikini and Mrs. Tara Kinikini on behalf of the UNESCO Library in Fiji. Library. Library. UNESCO Library. UNESCO Heritage Site. Wow, cool.

Uh, Cecilia, I'll sign.