The United Nations on Monday appealed for close to $13 billion to provide humanitarian assistance to people in crisis situations around the world next year.

Nearly half of that amount, $6.5 billion is to provide life-saving aid, including food, shelter and healthcare for millions of Syrians displaced inside their country and in neighbouring countries.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) says relief agencies aim to reach at least 52 million people with relief assistance.

Derrick Mbatha reports.

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