According to UN, 168 million people will require humanitarian aid and protection in 2020, meaning every 45th person on the planet.
Mark Lowcock, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator and UNICEF are asking for $ 29 billion.
“It is the highest figure in decades”, Lowcock states.
Climatic shocks, large infectious disease outbreaks and intensifying, protracted conflicts, resulted in global needs increasing by 22 million people in comparison to the past year.
Another disturbing trend, according to Lowcock are armed conflicts, killing and maiming a record number of children.
“More than 12,000 in fact were killed or maimed in conflict in 2018, and 2019 has been worse”, the Under-Secretary-General noted.
Women and girls are at higher risk of sexual and gender-based violence than in the past, and one in five people living in conflict areas has problems regarding mental health.
According to UNICEF, every fourth child in the world lives in a country affected by conflicts and disasters. They are in need of clean water, sanitation, nutrition, education and health care.
The UN Children's Fund released its US$ 4.2 billion 2020 emergency appeal to reach 59 million children in 64 countries across the globe. This is the biggest ask of donors yet, more than triple the funds requested in 2010.
