Geneva, February 05 (QNA) - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Thursday called on donor countries to provide USD 400 million to address the growing human rights needs in countries such as Sudan and Myanmar.

"We are currently in a survival mode, operating under immense pressure," Turk told representatives of nations in Geneva, noting that his office (OHCHR) has been forced to reduce its presence in 17 countries due to decreased contributions from countries such as the United States and European nations.

He pointed out that last year the OHCHR received USD 90 million less funding than it needed, resulting in the elimination of 300 positions. This has directly impacted its work, with the Myanmar program being cut by more than 60 percent, severely limiting its ability to gather evidence.

The UN official also emphasized that the OHCHR is mandated to investigate human rights violations, and its work contributes to the deliberations of the UN Security Council and serves as a broad basis for international courts.

Several UN agencies, particularly the World Health Organization, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the International Organization for Migration, have reduced their staff and spending this year due to some major donors not paying their dues to the United Nations in full, or reducing their foreign aid. (QNA)