UN: $16.4B neededed to aid world's most vulnerable

GENEVA (AP) — The United Nations appealed today for $16.4 billion to pay for global humanitarian needs in 2015, saying the number of people affected by conflicts and natural disasters around the world has reached record levels.

More than 40 percent of the appeal — $7.2 billion — would go to help 18.2 million people suffering from the war in Syria.

The appeal also covers Central African Republic, Iraq, and South Sudan, the top humanitarian priorities, as well as Afghanistan, Congo, Myanmar, occupied Palestinian territories, Somalia, Ukraine and Yemen.

A year ago, the U.N. asked for $12.9 billion to assist 52 million people, but during 2014, the number of people in need has nearly doubled to a record 102 million, U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said.

As a result, the U.N. raised its appeal to $17.9 billion for 31 countries, but donors only provided $9.4 billion, Amos said.

That has left $8.5 billion in unmet needs, many of which have been rolled over into the 2015 appeal to help 57.5 million of the world's most vulnerable people.