United Nations Radio

The United Nations has appealed for $265 million to improve the deteriorating situation in Iraq.

The biggest priority, says David Shearer, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, is to help the over two million people who have been displaced from their homes:

"...about half of those that left after the February 2006 bombing of the Samara shrine. What we are trying to do is to meet the immediate short-term needs of those people until the government can take care of them."

A lot of the money will go to food relief, medical supplies, shelter and non-food items. Mr. Shearer said that although the security situation has improved considerably since last week, there are still some areas that are inaccessible.

Reporting for UN Radio, this is Gerry Adams.

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