The United Nations has launched a worldwide appeal for US$187 million to help provide humanitarian relief to some 1.5 million people severely affected by the recent cyclone in Myanmar for the next six months.

Cyclone Nargis struck the South-East Asian nation on May 2, leaving a path of death and destruction across the Irrawaddy delta region and the country's largest city, Yangon.

The ruling military Government estimates that more than 22,000 people have died and over 41,000 remain missing.

However, the United Nations' Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes, says the number of deaths has been climbing daily and "could be anywhere between 63,000 and 100,000, or possibly even higher".

Mr Holmes launched the "Flash Appeal" in New York on Saturday on behalf of 10 UN agencies and nine non-governmental organizations, saying that the "extent of the humanitarian catastrophe is enormous".

He said the number of those severely affected is between 1.2 and 1.9 million, but said that the numbers of people in need may well increase further as agencies come to understand better the situation on the ground.

Mr Homes said the situation is urgent and stressed the need for the Government to facilitate aid delivery.

He told reporters that countries at the launch voiced strong hope that the cooperation which is necessary between the international community and the authorities in Myanmar will be "as forthcoming, as flexible, and as rapid as possible to make sure that not only material relief goods can get in but also humanitarian aid workers."

The Flash Appeal covers 12 areas, with the largest portion of the funding sought for food, water and sanitation, logistics, health and shelter. The UN World Food Programme is seeking US$56 million to provide daily food rations to 630,000 people in severely affected areas or temporary shelters.

Also, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization has appealed for US$10 million to assist poor farming and fishing communities devastated by Cyclone Nargis.

The UN Population Fund is appealing for US$3 million to mobilise emergency reproductive health supplies, including safe delivery kits, for those affected.

© NewsRoom 2008