MANILA - A request for funds amounting to $74 million is expected to help about a quarter of the 3.9 million people affected by tropical storm "Ondoy" (international code name Ketsana), the United Nations (UN) said.

The UN and the Philippine government formally launched their joint flash appeal in Manila on Wednesday, which would be good for 6 months starting October. The $74-million appeal aims to provide relief for one million Filipinos who felt the brunt of the tropical storm.

According to UN Resident Coordinator Dr. Jacqueline Baddock, the appeal would prioritize only one million victims as these are the ones who are heavily dependent on relief programs.

"About 3.9 million are affected, but only one million are in need of major relief. Others are able to pick up for themselves," Baddock said.

The project intends to meet basic needs of "Ondoy" victims, which include food (one million people), water, sanitation, and hygiene services (830,000 people), health services (747,000 people), and shelter (540,000 people).

"Priority sectors were identified as food assistance, WASH, health, shelter, non-food items, camp coordination, and camp management," she said.

Last week, the government sought the help of the UN in its relief efforts for victims of tropical storm "Ondoy." The agency, in turn, presented the flash appeal to representatives of 44 member states and 12 international organizations in Geneva on Tuesday.

The project kicked off quite well, according to Badcock, as the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund has already allocated $6.79 million for priority programs in the appeal.

"We are very grateful to the states that have pledged to commit funds, and to those who are now closely reviewing the appeal with a view to providing additional assistance," Badcock said.

Despite this, however, Baddock stressed that the flash appeal may be revised in the coming weeks to ensure that projects are in line with the latest government data.

"By the time of the revision, we will also have a clearer understanding of early recovery needs," she said.

For his part, Defense Secretary and National Disaster Coordinating Council Chairman Gilbert Teodoro thanked those that have already responded to the appeal, saying that these relief efforts will adhere to the principles of neutrality, humanity, and impartiality.

"In the face of what has to be done, it is clear that we need a non-partisan, united, and deliberate effort which everybody, regardless of political persuasion or situation in life must participate in," Teodoro said.

This is not the first time that the government sought the help of the UN in providing assistance to people in storm-hit areas. In 2006, the government and the UN asked some $80 million from international aid agencies and donors to help victims of typhoons "Milenyo" and "Reming." With a report from Jay Ruiz, ABS-CBN News