UN relief wing asks for 22.5 bln dollars for 2018

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has asked for a record amount of 22.5 billion U.S. dollars for 2018 as funds to help people around the world in need of aid and protection due to conflicts, natural disasters, epidemics and displacement.

These funds aim to reach 91 million of the world's most vulnerable people in 2018 with food, shelter, health care, and other basic assistance, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Friday.

The countries this appeal targets include Afghanistan, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Haiti, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, he said.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock emphasized that investing in coordinated response plans is a sound choice, which helps to deliver tangible and measurable results and has a proven track record of success.

Aid workers can only respond to the growing needs with the generous support of donors, said Lowcock. Enditem