The United Nations has received only about one-third of the funding it requested for aid activities in 2006 and urgently needs more money to assist 30 million people worldwide, it said Tuesday.

Six months after the launch of its 2006 appeal for $4.8 billion, the United Nations has received only $1.7 billion in cash, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA.

"Much has been achieved in the face of these crises in the first half of 2006, but much more remains to be done," said Yvette Stevens, head of OCHA's offices in Geneva. "The percentage of funds provided is still inadequate and there continues to be a delayed donor response."

The money, mainly for Africa and Southeast Asia, is the equivalent of 48 hours of worldwide military spending, the U.N. said.

Story Continues Below

About a third of the total appeal to ease major humanitarian crises around the world was slated for Sudan and the conflict in its Darfur region.

The most underfunded appeal is to help victims of drought in the Horn of Africa region, which has received $17.5 million -- or 15 percent -- of the $119 million required, OCHA said.

The appeal for Sudan has received 24 percent of $503 million; Burundi 25 percent of $123 million; and Congo 26 percent of $705 million, OCHA said.

Other underfunded appeals include several more African crisis points, as well as the Palestinian territories.

"We must do better in terms of providing adequate levels of predictable humanitarian funding for our appeals," said OCHA chief Jan Egeland.

© 2006 Associated Press.

Editor's note:
New Book Exposes Jimmy Carter – Click Here Now!
U2`s Bono Shakes Up Faith and Politics
Diversify your portfolio in foreign bond funds – More Info Here
You Can Profit from Globalism and Technology Advances - click here now!