UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said Thursday that the United Nations enters 2014 facing "severe humanitarian crises" with ongoing conflicts affecting millions of people around the world. Amos, a UN undersecretary general, told reporters in New York that 2013 ended with the highest levels of humanitarian crises, citing severe needs for aid in Syria, the Central African Republic (CAR) and the Philippines. In late December the UN asked donor countries provide 12.9 billion dollars in 2014 to enable aid agencies to reach 52 million people in need in 17 countries, dpa quoted Amos as saying. Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and Somalia are also targeted countries, where the UN plans to reach millions of people with humanitarian assistance. "2013 was a real test of the global humanitarian system," Amos said. "There is no indication that this year will be any different."
