The United Nations launched a new appeal for nearly $1.5 billion Thursday to help the 3 million Haitians affected by last month's devastating earthquake. The appeal, covering needs in 2010, is more than double the U.N.'s initial request on January 15 for $562 million to help quake victims for six months. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his special envoy for Haiti, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, were launching the $1.44 billion appeal at a meeting with diplomats from many of the 191 other U.N. member states. Donors have already pledged $673 million. According to the U.N., more than 1.2 million Haitians need emergency shelter and urgent sanitation facilities and at least 2 million need food.
