The United Nations agencies for health, refugees and humanitarian assistance known as WHO, UNHCR and OCHA and their partner organizations want to help some 87 million people in 37 countries including Syria, Yemen, South Sudan and Iraq next year the most vulnerable people among an estimated 125 million in need in total, officials said. The agencies said the funding being sought USD 20.1 billion is five times greater than just a decade ago.
The appeals are to help cover all sorts of human miseries, such as those caused by war and natural disasters. The agencies noted that worldwide, some 60 million people have been forced to flee their homes in recent years- the highest level in the postwar era.
But the wars in Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and Yemen will remain the "greatest drivers of prolonged humanitarian needs" in 2016, the agencies said in a statement.
O'Brien said that the suffering in the world continues to outpace the needed funding, and promised that "generosity" with funds would be used to save lives.