United Nations Radio

The United Nations is seeking to raise 2.2 billion dollars to fund its humanitarian operation in Sudan.

Almost half of the total requirement amounting to One billion dollars will be used in Darfur where an estimated 4.5 million people continue to be in need of assistance after six years of conflict.

Patrick Maigua reports from Geneva.

United Nations and other aid agencies operating in the Sudan, say the country's humanitarian and social indicators remain at alarming levels. For instance in the south, more than half of the population does not have access to clean water, the number of mothers dying in childbirth is one of the highest in the world and the number of immunized children is one of the lowest. Lise Grande is the UN Humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan.

"In case of food security, we are hoping to provide 4 million people with direct assistance. In the case of health care and nutrition sector the same thing. We hope through the work plan to provide 4 million Sudanese people with access to basic health care. We are looking at reconstructing or repairing 1,000 km of road. We hope that an estimated 800,000 children will be able to go to primary school. 1.5 million people will receive access to clean water and we hope that 54,000 refugees will return home and that 500,000 IDPs will receive assistance in their homes."

The Sudan humanitarian appeal is the largest in the world. The UN Office for the Co-ordinator of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says it has already managed to raise 620 million dollars for the Sudan appeal.

Earlier this week the United Nations launched a 7 billion dollars humanitarian appeal to help 30 million vulnerable people around the world.

Patrick Maigua UN radio Geneva.

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