Ukraine in Arabic | UN requested a record sum to help refugees
KYIV/Ukraine in Arabic/ The United Nations says it will need $16.4 billion in 2015 to help 57.5 million of the most vulnerable people in the world.
Last year, the U.N. says it raised $9.4 billion for humanitarian needs — leaving $8.5 billion in unmet needs by the end of 2014. But the U.N. humanitarian appeal a year ago began by asking for $12.9 million to assist 52 million people.
The request comes as aid agencies warn they are running out of cash to fund this year's operations.
Last week the World Food Programme announced it would have to cut food rations to Syrian refugees.
In its new appeal, the UN is requesting $2.8bn to help those displaced by the conflict inside Syria. It is seeking another $4.4bn to help more than 3,250,000 refugees registered in neighbouring countries.
Last year, Syria, South Sudan and the Central African Republic figured
Since then, the conflict in Ukraine, the rise of Islamic State militant group
UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos told reporters in Geneva: "We are facing needs at an unprecedented level.''
'New thinking'
The aid agencies need to plan, but to do that they need cash.
Food and medical supplies for refugees have to be purchased in advance, and field hospitals have to be delivered and built.
The appeal for 2015 is sure to reflect the multiple crises around the world and the enormous challenges facing the UN agencies as they try to help those caught up in them, our correspondent adds.
"We are talking about 78 million people in 22 countries that would need help in 2015," UN deputy aid official Kyung-
"The funding requirements of that will be much bigger."
She added that the UN was seeking "innovative
She suggested the "wall" between funding for humanitarian aid and development financing could be "made more
