UN seeks emergency funds for Peru, Sudan, Somalia

GENEVA, Aug 28 (Reuters) The United Nations today appealed for funds to help victims of natural disasters in Peru and Sudan and to boost food aid in Somalia after poor harvests.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said 37 million dollar was needed to assist some 200,000 people still reeling from a August. 15 earthquake in Peru that destroyed more than 37,000 homes.

The money would be used to provide supplies such as water purification tablets, food, tents and blankets, as well as electricity generators and tools to clear the rubble from the quake, OCHA spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs said.

The United Nations also asked for 20 million dollar to support humanitarian aid to more than 3 million people affected by torrential rains and flash floods in Sudan.

At least 200,000 people lost their homes in the floods, which killed at least 12,000 livestock and destroyed more than 42,000 hectares of crops, OCHA said in a statement. It said at least 3.5 million people in Sudan could be at risk of epidemics.

Separately, the World Food Programme (WFP) said poor harvests in southern Somalia, combined with high inflation and violence, had raised the number of Somalis requiring food assistance to 1.2 million, from less than 1 million previously.

WFP spokeswoman Christiane Berthiaume said 22 million dollar in aid was needed to meet increased emergency food aid needs in the region. Without the new funds, rations for Somalis would have to be cut from October, she said.

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