UN in biggest ever appeal for Syria crisis

The United Nations warned half of all Syrians will need humanitarian aid by the end of 2013 and launched what it said was the largest emergency appeal in history to cope with the civil war crisis.

“Syria as a civilisation is unravelling”, said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, announcing the call for some $5bn (€3.8bn) before the end of the year.

The joint statement by UN agencies coincided with heavy fighting on numerous fronts, as rebels attacked an air base in northern Syria while forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad sought to capitalise on their own recent gains.