UN launches $29 billion appeal for aid funding

shaheennews

The United Nations on Wednesday issued a humanitarian appeal for nearly $29 billion to help more than 168 million people worldwide in 2020, who affected by climate changes and protracted conflicts.

“In 2020, nearly 168 million people worldwide will need humanitarian assistance and protection,” UN emergency relief coordinator Mark Lowcock stated, adding climatic shocks, large infectious disease outbreaks and intensifying, protracted conflicts, have resulted in global needs increasing by tens of millions people in the past year.

That figure marks a “record in the modern era,” clarifying that he was referring to the period since World War II, the official noted.

The UN relief chief said that the UN and partner organizations “will be aiming to assist 109 million of the most vulnerable people”.The UN is seeking more than $3 billion to address humanitarian crises in Yemen and Syria, the countries most in need.

Needs continue to rise in part because “conflicts are becoming more protracted and intense,” Lowcock further said, pointing that 2020 will be difficult for millions of people.

Turning to Venezuela, where the funding requirement is $1.35 billion for 3.8 million people in 2020, needs are “substantially outstripping resources”, the UN official said.

A “substantial increase in humanitarian assistance for Venezuelans” was needed for those inside their country” and an approximate doubling of assistance for those who’ve left the country, Lowcock insisted.

//Petra//