The United Nations has launched an emergency fund designed to speed up the handout of money for humanitarian disasters. The prime minister of Grenada Keith Mitchell, speaking on behalf of Caricom, said the grouping welcomed the initiative. The Caribbean, he said, was among the regions in the world that are most vulnerable to natural disasters. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan wants cash from the fund to immediately help millions in the Horn of Africa threatened with starvation. But worldwide responses to the fund have been muted - with only a quarter of the amount needed raised so far, of which a third has come from the UK. Dr Mitchell's Grenada is still recovering from the effects of hurricane Ivan which devastated the island in September 2004. 'Not happy' The Prime Minister drew his nation's plight to the attention of the UN and also cited the case of Guyana, which was hit by floods last year. He said: "Caricom was disappointed by the poor response to the appeal for assistance launched by the United Nations in the wake of those disasters. "In both cases only a small percentage of the pledges were fulfilled." UK International Development Secretary Hilary Benn described the world's reaction to disasters as similar to that of a fire brigade having to go round with a collecting tin to raise funds before it can put out fires. "Now, with this single source of rapid funding, there should be less forgotten crises and less focus on passing around the begging bowl when crises do strike, so saving time and people's lives," he said. Equity The UN under-secretary for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, Jan Egeland, told the BBC he hoped it would "inject some equity into the system". The central fund has so far raised just under $200m from some 22 countries. Grenada has provided $10,000. Mr Egeland said they needed an extra $450m. Reprinted from bbccaribbean.com