UN appeals for more aid for

UN humanitarian chief John Holmes said Thursday that the world body was hiking its aid appeal to help Cyclone Nargis victims in Myanmar from an initial 201 million to 481.8 million dollars. The revised appeal by some 13 UN agencies and 23 non-governmental organisations is to fund remaining relief needs as well as 103 early recovery projects in the areas of water, sanitation, education, health, nutrition, food and agriculture, he said here. Holmes, who heads the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said donors had covered around 70 per cent of the initial appeal of 201 million dollars, which means that 303.6 million dollars are still needed. ‘I hope the international community will show itself fully ready, capable and willing to help provide further critically-needed assistance to the people of Myanmar,’ he said at the launch of the appeal in the UN Trustee Council chamber.