By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA (Reuters), – On Thursday, the United Nations requested a record $41billion in life-saving funding to assist 183 million victims of conflict and poverty worldwide next year. The appeal was led by a tripling its Afghan programme.

Famine is still a frightening prospect for 45 million people in 43 countries. Extreme weather due to climate change has reduced food supply, according to the U.N. annual appeal. This was based on a 17% increase in funding requirements.

The drivers of our needs are those that are well-known to us all. It includes prolonged conflicts, political instability and failing economies. “The climate crisis is not a new emergency, but it calls for more attention, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic,” Martin Griffiths, U.N. aid chief, told reporters.

The world body warned donors that 2022 may be “catastrophic” if it does not take sustained, immediate action.

Afghanistan, Syria (Yemen), Ethiopia, Sudan, and Yemen are five of the biggest crises which require funding. This includes $4.5 Billion for Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. “Needs are skyrocketing,” it added.

Afghanistan has more than 24 million residents who need lifesaving aid. It is a drastic increase due to political instability, multiple economic shocks and extreme food insecurity resulting from the worst drought in 27-years.

Griffiths stated that “we are trying to establish urgently with support from both the World Bank and the U.N. system, currency swap initiatives which will allow liquidity into the economy.”

He said that “the lack of money in Afghanistan is a major obstacle to the delivery of any services.” I hope that it will be up and running by the end of March.

Since a Tigrayan conflict began in Ethiopia last year, it has seen thousands flee the country. Meanwhile, fighting and drought have pushed more people to the edge of disaster, according to U.N.

According to the report, nearly 26 million Ethiopians are in need of aid.

Griffiths stated that Ethiopia is “the most alarming, possibly almost certainly” in terms of urgent emergency need. He also said that nearly 400,000 people were already at risk from famine in May.

While he noted the heavy fighting that continued with Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front force moving closer to Addis Ababa’s capital, he said: “But it is nearly impossible to imagine a capacity to respond in an imploded Ethiopia.”