UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations launched a multi-billion dollar appeal on Monday for critical funding as its humanitarian arm and relief agencies prepare to tackle an unprecedented level of crisis around the world next year.

Led by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and spanning a broad swathe of conflict zones and refugee crises – from the occupied Palestinian territories and Myanmar to Yemen and Ukraine – this latest appeal calls for $16.4 billion to help 57.5 million people who “have experienced unimaginable suffering”.

“Over 80 per cent of those we intend to help are in countries mired in conflict where brutality and violence have had a devastating impact on their lives,” said Valerie Amos, UN Undersecretary General for humanitarian affairs, at a Geneva press conference kicking off the appeal. “We will continue to put people at the centre of our relief efforts and do everything we can to respond quickly and effectively, but the rising scale of need is outpacing our capacity to respond”, she added.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2014