Red Cross Federation seeks $335 mln for two-year aid

GENEVA (Reuters) - The world's largest disaster relief agency on Thursday appealed for $335.4 million (430 million swiss francs) to help it mitigate the deadly effects of hunger, hurricanes and epidemics over the next two years.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said following a year marked by the Indian Ocean tsunami, famine in Niger, devastating hurricanes in the Caribbean and the Americas, and a massive earthquake in Pakistan, the time had come for better preparedness.

"We have come to the conclusion that, unless there is a fundamental change in emphasis from response to preparedness, global resources to respond adequately and in a timely manner to an increase in disaster-linked demands, will be overstretched in the years to come," said Secretary-General Markku Niskala.

The Federation's appeal for the current year was $180 million (209 million swiss francs) when launched in November 2004.

The Federation's activities would aim to strengthen the capacity of its 183 Red Cross and Red Crescent national member societies "in order to find sustainable ways of reducing the vulnerability of populations to disasters and other crises".

The Geneva-based body's appeal -- the first time in recent history that it covers two years -- was being launched at a meeting with representatives from donor countries, according to spokeswoman Marie-Francoise Borel.

Nearly 40 percent is earmarked for Africa, particularly to secure food for vulnerable populations in the Sahel and southern Africa, as well as for health programs, it said.

Asia, where 60 percent of the world's disasters occur, follows, with most funds devoted to health programs to address emergencies such as dengue fever and bird flu, it added.

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