UN reports some 5 bln USD short in mid-year humanitarian action

The United Nations on Wednesday reported that only 48 percent of the appeals are in place to help 53 million people in 34 countries, leaving 4.9 billion U.S. dollars still needed.

The figure was revealed at the launch of the Humanitarian Appeal Mid-Year Review for 2010, chaired by John Holmes, the United Nations under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.

The revised appeals are now seeking a total of 9.5 billion U.S. dollars to help 53 million people in 34 countries. Funding is now at 48 percent, leaving 4.9 billion dollars still needed, UN officials said.

"Maintaining humanitarian aid budgets this year in the face of recession and pressure on budgets has been a real achievement by many donors," Holmes said.

"I urge them to keep up this effort to ensure that people struck by disaster or conflict receive the help they desperately need for the rest of the year," he added.

Also present at the launch were Libran N. Cabactulan, the permanent representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, and the chief executive officer and president of InterAction, Samuel Worthington. InterAction is the largest alliance of U.S.- based international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) focused on the world's poor and most vulnerable people.

Source: Xinhua