Global appeal for $2.2bn to help 85 million people in emergencies | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

A global appeal has been launched for $2.2 billion to help 85 million people facing conflict and natural disasters in 50 countries.

Almost 40 per cent of the appeal by the UN Children's Agency (UNICEF) is for Syria and the region where the organisation says humanitarian and development aid is urgently needed.

UNICEF's crisis appeal for 2.2 billion USD is the largest on record, exceeding its most recent call in October for 1.7 billion dollars.

Almost 40 percent of the money is to tackle the impact of Syria's civil war. Children make up a major proportion of the millions of Syrian's who have had to flee their homes.

All told UNICEF wants to provide humanitarian aid to 59 million children in 50 war and disaster stricken countries this year, as well as 26 million adults.

The agency says many other countries not in the headlines such as Colombia, Somalia and Yemen are also in urgent need of funding and humanitarian aid.

For more information, please click here

SOURCE: UN News