The United Nations says it will need $51.5 billion to help 230 million of the world’s most vulnerable people in nearly 70 countries, including Nigeria, in 2023.

According to the UN and partner organisations, the size of the appeal – 25 per cent higher than this year’s – reflects that the total number in need is 65 million more than in 2022.

UN secretary-general António Guterres, in a video message, said that during a “year of extremes,” it was essential to fund lifesaving operations next year, which were a “source of hope for millions of people in desperate need.”

Mr Guterres spoke on Thursday in Geneva at the 2023 Global Humanitarian Overview report launch.

This year’s UN-led Global Humanitarian appeal is only 47 per cent funded – a sharp drop from earlier years where funding levels used to reach 60 to 65 per cent, he revealed.

As part of the appeal, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said it would need $1.9 billion to reach 48 million who rely on agriculture and subsistence farming, with lifesaving and livelihood assistance in 2023.

Acute food insecurity continues to escalate globally, the FAO said, as it put in place plans to ensure that some of the world’s most vulnerable communities continue to receive a steady supply of nutritious food, where the ability to produce it has been severely compromised.

The UN agency provides cash, crop and vegetable seed packages, along with livestock feed, to those in need, including in conflict zones.

FAO also promotes animal health campaigns and improvements to vital infrastructure, including irrigation systems and markets, to encourage resilience to future emergencies. 

(NAN)