UN appeals for record $22.2B for humanitarian aid
Monday December 5, 2016
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs calls for help for 93 million around world
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs calls for help for 93 million around world
The UN launched a record appeal for humanitarian aid on Monday, calling for $22.2 billion to help nearly 93 million people caught in conflicts and disasters around the world.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said $8.1 billion would go to help 12.8 million people in Syria and 4.7 million Syrian refugees in neighboring countries next year.
“As we speak, more people have humanitarian needs, not least because of protracted crises lasting longer and longer,” UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O’Brien said.
Globally, 128.6 million people need humanitarian assistance, OCHA said in its 2017 Global Humanitarian Overview and the UN will provide aid to 92.8 million in 33 countries.
Worsening crises in countries such as Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, Nigeria and Yemen have seen the UN’s aid appeal rise from $7.9 billion in 2011.
Humanitarian organizations approach the end of 2016 with a $10.7 billion funding gap — the largest ever.