UN appeals for record $22.5B in humanitarian aid

By Fatih Erel

GENEVA (AA) - The UN launched a record appeal for humanitarian aid on Friday, calling for $22.5 billion to help 91 million people caught in conflicts and disasters around the world in 2018.

The UN plan for next year is slightly over the $22.2 billion appeal which was launched for 2017.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said $7.7 billion would go to help over 11 million people in Syria and more than 5 million Syrian refugees in neighboring countries.

According to the UN, 136 million people need humanitarian aid and protection due to conflicts, natural disasters, epidemics and displacement around the world.

"For 2018, needs will remain at exceptionally high levels in Nigeria, South Sudan, the Syria region and Yemen, which is likely to remain the world’s worst humanitarian crisis," it said.