GENEVA — The U.N.'s humanitarian aid coordination agency says it and partners require a record $22.2 billion next year to help people hit by conflict and disasters around the world, a 10 percent increase from this year. The appeal announced Monday from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs seeks to help nearly 93 million people in 33 countries — nearly two-thirds of them in Africa. It is the highest amount the agency has ever requested, said OCHA chief Stephen O'Brien. Advertisement Continue reading the main storyThe single highest amount in the appeal is for $4.7 billion destined for a Syria "Regional Response Plan." Conflicts including those in Yemen, Syria, South Sudan and Nigeria were the main driver of the appeal, the agency said.

Source: New York Times December 05, 2016 08:23 UTC