U.N. asks for $16.4 billion in aid for 2015

The U.N. asked for $16.4 billion in humanitarian aid on Monday to help its 455 aid organizations reach their goals.

The money would help 57.5 million of the world's most vulnerable people, The Associated Press reports. At least 40 percent of the appeal would help 18.2 million people who are suffering as a result of the Syrian war. And as many as 80 percent of the needy the U.N. wants to help are in countries ridden with conflict.

The U.N. added that 2014's aid needs reached $17.9 billion in 31 countries, but the U.N. only raised 52 percent of that amount — $9.4 billion. Many of the unmet needs from this year have "rolled over" into the new request, AP notes.

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The new appeal includes the Central African Republic, Iraq, South Sudan, and Syria, which the U.N. has designated "top humanitarian priorities." It also covers Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, the occupied Palestinian territories, Somalia, Ukraine, and Yemen.