GENEVA, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- One in every 45 people on the planet is in need of basic assistance, including food, shelter, health care, and protection, a UN humanitarian report released Wednesday showed.
In its Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) 2020, the UN said that the number of people in need globally has increased by some 22 million over the past year.
According to the GHO 2020, the main drivers of need are protracted and highly violent conflicts, extreme weather events associated with climate change and under-performing economies.
The UN and its partner non-governmental humanitarian organizations aim to reach 109 million vulnerable people with aid and protection next year, which will require nearly 29 billion U.S. dollars, said the report.
"The brutal truth is 2020 will be difficult for millions of people. The good news is that the humanitarian response is getting better and faster in reaching the most vulnerable, including women, children, and people with disabilities," Mark Lowcock, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said when launching the GHO 2020 in Geneva.
"Today, we have laid out a plan to help those who need it most. But it will only work if everyone continues to play their part. Climate change, conflict, and economic instability are devastating millions of lives. Together we must stand up, face facts, and fight back," Lowcock added.
According to the UN figures, in 2019, more people than forecasted needed humanitarian assistance, and donors provided a record 16 billion U.S. dollars for inter-agency appeals between January and November.
