ISLAMABAD, Nov 27: The United Nations has revised upward its emergency donor appeal from $584 million to $662 million to incorporate gross food requirements.

According to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan sources, the new donor appeal would finance an inter-agency Emergency Humanitarian Assistance Plan for Afghans in Afghanistan and in neighbouring countries till March 2002.

Earlier, at the end of September, the United Nations and its partners prepared and disseminated a ‘Donor Alert’ to support a humanitarian assistance plan for Afghans in Afghanistan and in neighbouring countries with financial requirements identified at $584 million.

The new donor alert, according to UNOCHA sources, has been prepared in the light of the dramatic changes that have occurred since Nov 9, when the control of large parts of the country rapidly began to shift away from the Taliban.

“Taking into consideration funds received, changes in the operational requirements to support refugees and the current operating environment, the new appeal by United Nations agencies reflects the recently-revised requirements amounting to $662 million and outstanding requirements of $319 million,” sources said.

According to UNOCHA, the situation in the weeks since the military intervention has been marked by large-scale displacement of 40-70 per cent of urban population.