UN: Funding shortage hurts aid to Syrians

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon plans to renew a call for funding to assist Syrians affected by the conflict inside Syria and those who have fled the country, dpa quoted a UN spokesman as saying Tuesday. Ban will appear before the UN General Assembly at 4pm (20:00 GMT) to report on the latest developments in the conflict and call for international support for the new envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, said Martin Nesirky. \"The secretary general will say that the humanitarian situation is grave and has deteriorated, both in Syria and neighbouring countries,\" Nesirky said. \"However, we are constrained by underfunding ... and governments that have generously opened their borders and accepted their responsibility to shelter those who have sought refuge urgently need support,\" Nesirky said. The UN has received only half of the 180 million dollars it had been seeking to assist the refugees.