ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: The United Nations has issued a new donor alert amounting to $584.03 million for six months to ensure delivery of an inter-agency humanitarian assistance plan for Afghanistan and neighbouring countries.

Official sources said the UN would use the funds for humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan through a Regional Humanitarian Coordinator.

According to UN sources, the donor alert for humanitarian assistance had replaced the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) 2001 for Afghanistan in view of the drastic changes in the overall context. The 2001 CAP is no longer applicable and as soon as a clearer picture emerges on the scale of the humanitarian needs in the region, a modified CAP will be initiated once again.

The alert, sources said, was a six-month plan of action based on a number of agreed scenarios and planning assumptions.

“The alert to donors is based on initial plans and sets out in broad terms the projected immediate requirements to respond to the needs of the most affected and vulnerable Afghans, particular women and children, in and outside Afghanistan.

The figure, according to UN sources, was not likely to remain valid for a period longer than six months in view of the uncertain situation in Afghanistan and may increase if the crisis aggravates.

The UN hoped that donors would respond positively and flexibly in order to allow the UN and its NGO partners to put in place the resources and the operational capacity to provide for 7.5m Afghans desperately in need of assistance.

The sources said that a Regional Humanitarian Coordinator (RHC) would be responsible for coordination at the regional level of the inter-agency response to the situation in Afghanistan and its regional implications.