Syria crisis: UN launches largest ever aid appeal

United Nations aid agencies have launched the largest appeal in the history of the UN, to help fund their relief effort in Syria and neighbouring countries.

The UN is seeking an additional $4bn this year, as it expects the number of refugees, and those in need inside Syria, to rise dramatically.

Governments were criticised for being slow to commit funds to the previous UN target of $1.5bn for the first six months of this year, the BBC's Nick Childs said.

Speaking in Geneva, UN Emergency Relief Co-ordinator Valerie Amos said as many one in three Syrians were in need of ''urgent humanitarian assistance.''