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UN seeks record $7 billion for 2009 aid

Agence France-Presse

November 19, 2008

GENEVA—The United Nations on Wednesday launched its largest ever aid appeal, saying it will need $7 billion (?5.5 billion) to help 30 million people in 31 countries during 2009.

The Humanitarian Appeal 2009 is the largest since the creation of the so-called Consolidated Appeals Process in 1991, with Sudan accounting for more than a quarter of all intended funds, the UN said in a statement.

The appeal comprises twelve consolidated appeals for the Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq and its region, Kenya, the Palestinian territories, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, the West African region, and Zimbabwe, the UN said.

Sudan is the subject of the largest individual appeal at $2.1 billion, followed by Somalia (919 million), DR Congo (831 million), Zimbabwe (550 million), and Iraq and the region (547 million).

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged countries to give generously to the appeal despite the economic crisis.

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