UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN humanitarian chief John Holmes said Thursday that the world body was hiking its aid appeal to help Cyclone Nargis victims in Myanmar from an initial 201 million to 481.8 million dollars (300 million euros).

The revised appeal by some 13 UN agencies and 23 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is to fund remaining relief needs as well as 103 early recovery projects in the areas of water, sanitation, education, health, nutrition, food and agriculture, he said here.

Holmes, who heads the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said donors had covered around 70 percent of the initial appeal of 201 million dollars, which means that 303.6 million dollars are still needed.

"I hope the international community will show itself fully ready, capable and willing to help provide further critically-needed assistance to the people of Myanmar," he said at the launch of the appeal in the UN Trustee Council chamber.

"The survivors of this tragedy deserves nothing less," he added.

More than 138,000 people were killed or remain missing in the wake of Cyclone Nargis which pummelled southwest Myanmar on May 2 and 3.

Only 45 percent of survivors are getting food from international aid agencies, according to a report issued last month by the UN and the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN, which conducted a detailed assessment of the worst-affected areas.

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