United Nations Radio

The United Nations launched its largest ever appeal on Wednesday for US$7 billion to help 30 million vulnerable people worldwide in 2009.

The appeal comprises 12 consolidated appeals for the Central African Republic , Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kenya, the Palestinian territories, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, the West African region and Zimbabwe.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes says the biggest requirement is for Sudan with just over $2 billion.

He says the $7 billion dollar appeal was 40 per cent more than the 2008 Consolidated Appeal.

And he adds "despite the strains of the global financial crisis, humanitarian budgets should be not only maintained, but increased as aid needs increased."

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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