UN humanitarian assistance to developing countries. When countries are stricken by war, famine or natural disaster, the UN helps provide humanitarian aid. Part of this aid is in the form of direct assistance from the UN operational agencies and programs The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN FAO, the World Health Organization WHO, the World Food Program WFP, the UN Childrens Fund UNICEF and the UN Development Program UNDP. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR is responsible for the protection and assistance of over 26 million people around the world who have fled war or persecution, seeking at the same time durable solutions to their plight.
In early 1997, UNHCRs major operations were in the Great Lakes region of Africa, with over 1.4 million people in need the former Yugoslavia over 2 million people and western Asia some 2.3 million Afghan refugees.
All UN emergency relief is coordinated by the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, who heads the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs. In 1996, the UN raised 1.3 billion for emergency assistance to over 22 million people around the world. 5. DISARMAMENT 5.1