Launching the appeal in Nairobi, Kenya, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden, warned that half the population of Somalia is now in crisis.
He said in addition to responding to needs in the areas of health, nutrition and water and sanitation in order to save lives, there is also need to provide support for livelihoods for Somalis.
This, he pointed out, would prevent households from falling into poverty given the high food prices, loss of assets and a lack of access to food.
OCHA says the money will fund some 200 projects run by United Nations agencies as well as international and national non-governmental organizations in Somalia.
The United Nations says the increase in the appeal from over $600 million this year to more than $900 million next year reflects the dramatic increase in the number of people in need.
According to OCHA, the projection of those in need is more than three million people, representing 40 per cent of the total population of Somalia.
The appeal is part of the global consolidated appeal for some $7 billion launched in Geneva on the 19th of November to help 30 million people in need around the world.
United Nations, Diane Bailey.
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