The United Nations warned that milions of displaced peaple in the Middle East are at extreme risk

The United Nations (U.N.) warned on Tuesday (October 3) that millions of refugees across the Middle East are unlikely to receive the help they need for the winter months. The U.N. Secretary General’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric also warned that the U.N. refugee agency was lacking funds for its winter assistance plan for the region. “There are nearly 15 million Syrian and Iraqi refugees and internally displaced people scattered across the region. UNHCR estimates that as many as four million are in the extreme risk category and need timely and substantial help to prepare for the forthcoming winter”, Dujarric told journalists at the United Nations headquarters, adding that just one quarter of those most at risk are likely to get the assistance they need. “The $245 million Regional Winter Assistance Plan for the region is only 26 per cent funded”, he said.