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UN Appeals For Global Aid

The latest appeal from the United Nations involves a record request for $4.7 billion to aid the world`s more than 30 million victims of war, famine and natural disaster. UN emergency relief co-ordinator Jan Egeland attributes the amount to that equal of global military costs spent in 48 hours.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan says the international community has the capacity to pay, and now must display the will to do so, "In a world of plenty, continued suffering is a terrible stain on our conscience. It is inexcusable that we not strive, with every resource at our disposal, to eliminate suffering."

The UN`s goal is to provide life-saving help to more than 30 million people in 26 countries. Many are in Africa, however, the UN wants $1.5 billion - nearly a third of the total - for Sudan, which would mainly be split between the western Darfur area, where violence continues, and the now peaceful south, where reconstruction is under way.