Geneva  - The United Nations' humanitarian appeals for 2009 are short 4.8 billion dollars six months into the year, according to data released in Geneva on Tuesday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said overall humanitarian funding requirements for 2009, including 16 consolidated appeals for countries and two flash appeals, have increased by 1.5 billion dollars since the start of the year.

The total target for the humanitarian appeals now stands at 9.5 billion dollars.

Funding was best ever at mid-year, OCHA said, in both absolute terms and as a percentage or requirements, with 4.6 billion dollars donated, meeting 49 of the appeals.

However, the absolute amount still missing - 4.8 billion dollars - was considered to be the highest ever at the six months mark.

Pakistan saw the most dramatic increase in needs, owing to the massive military offensive that displaced 2 million people. The funding requirements rose from 55 million dollars to 542 million dollars.

The deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, due to the blockade on the enclave and the Israeli offensive at the start of the year, has increased the needs for the Palestinian territories by 341 million dollars, OCHA reported.

Sri Lanka's appeal would require an extra 114 million dollars as the war there left 285,000 people displaced and "in need of sustained help."

Zimbabwe would need 169 million dollars more than expected, and Kenya would need a 187-million-dollar boost to the original appeal, as food insecurity is on the rise and the influx of refugees from Somalia picks up.

The UN meanwhile decreased slightly its funding needs inside Somalia, saying insecurity in the lawless country was forcing it to cancel food distribution programmes. (dpa)