SECRETARY-GENERAL SEEKS $7.4 BILLION TO AID 50 MILLION PEOPLE IN 2011

(Geneva: 30 November 2010): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, on behalf of international humanitarian organizations, today called for USD 7.4 billion to provide urgent humanitarian aid to 50 million people in 28 countries worldwide.

"Every human being has a right to safety, stability and security, and it is within our power to make this right a reality." the Secretary-General said in the foreword to the Appeal.*

The 2011 Humanitarian Appeal is the biggest Appeal in dollar terms ever launched since the creation of the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) in 1991. It comprises appeals for the West Africa region and 13 countries: Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Haiti, Kenya, Niger, the occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.

The Appeal marks the culmination of a large-scale process in which 425 aid organizations including United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations and other international organizations have come together to set out how we can meet the world's major humanitarian challenges in a strategic, coordinated and effective way. To implement these plans, they need resources.

"In 2011, tens of millions of people will need help to survive. Conflicts and natural disasters will cut them off from their homes, their livelihoods, and from access to essentials like drinking water and health care. Many are the most vulnerable people in the world suffering from malnourishment, disease, or violence," said Valerie Amos, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. "This Appeal is asking for the resources needed to respond quickly. The strong response to the mega-disasters this year in Haiti and Pakistan shows what is possible when the international community comes together."

Ms. Valerie Amos chaired the launch of the Humanitarian Appeal 2011 this afternoon. Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO), His Excellency Mr. Kenichi Suganuma, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations and Other International Organizations at Geneva, Mr. William Lacy Swing, Director-General, International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Mr. Pierre Salignon, Director-General, Médecins du Monde (MdM), also participated.

Two Satellite Launches of the Humanitarian Appeal took place in Doha, Qatar and Brussels, Belgium, respectively.

* the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) brings aid organizations together to jointly plan, coordinate, implement and monitor their response to natural disasters and complex emergencies, and to appeal for funds cohesively, not competitively. This means people in need can receive the best possible protection and assistance, in time.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679, bunker@un.org; Nicholas Reader +1 212 963 4961, mobile +1 646 752 3117, reader@un.org; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva,

+41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570, byrs@un.org. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.