In its annual appeal, which saw a 17 percent increase in annual funding required, the United Nations said famine remained a "terrifying prospect" of threatening 45 million people in 43 countries as adverse weather conditions caused by climate change reduced food supplies.

The United Nations has requested a record $41 billion in funding to provide essential assistance next year to some 183 million people worldwide trapped in conflict and poverty, with the lead in tripling its programme in Afghanistan.

"The causes of these needs are known to us, and include long-term conflicts, political upheaval and economic crises... The climate crisis is not a new one, but it requires greater attention, and of course there's the Covid-19 pandemic. "

The United Nations said in a donor report that "without immediate and sustained action 2022 could be catastrophic."

The crises in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Ethiopia and the Sudan were the five major crises requiring the largest funding, with a top of $4.5 billion required for Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, where "needs are growing sharply."