UNICEF Appeals for $1.2 Billion to Aid 51 Million African Children
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Nairobi, Dec 6 (NationPress) The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has made a significant appeal for $1.2 billion aimed at providing support to 51 million children who are currently enduring a multitude of crises, such as climate shocks, public health emergencies, armed conflicts, and economic difficulties in eastern and southern Africa.
According to UNICEF, this figure represents an increase of six million children in need compared to the previous year, indicating a further decline in the humanitarian conditions within the region, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
In a statement released in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, the UN agency emphasized that these funds will enable it to focus on the needs and rights of marginalized children and communities in a region where over 63 million people are impacted by public health emergencies.
UNICEF's Regional Director, Etleva Kadilli, highlighted the extraordinary challenges faced by millions of children in eastern and southern Africa.
"Even amidst adversity, we witness remarkable dynamism, hope, and resilience. By prioritizing action and investment, transformative change is possible, ensuring that children have the opportunities necessary to improve their lives," Kadilli stated.
The agency pointed out that the escalating frequency and swift spread of public health emergencies, coupled with fragile resilience and cross-border population movements, intensify the region's susceptibility to infectious disease outbreaks, including mpox, Marburg, cholera, malaria, and other vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and polio.
UNICEF reported that around one in three children in the region is facing food poverty, with 28 million at risk of being ensnared in a cycle of malnutrition and poverty due to declining food production and increasing rates of malnutrition.
Despite improvements in enrolment rates across the region, access to education remains dire for children, with nearly 47 million out of school.
"Children in this region are at the forefront of the global learning crisis, disproportionately affected by public health emergencies, conflicts, and climate-related disasters, with nine out of 10 children unable to read a simple text by age 10," the agency stated.
Displacement in the region has surged by almost 15 percent due to climate impacts like floods and droughts, in addition to escalating conflicts in neighboring countries, according to UNICEF.
From April 2023 to October 10, 2024, over 826,000 people, which includes 415,000 children, have fled into South Sudan escaping the war in Sudan.
To safeguard children and enhance community and systemic resilience amid these multiple crises, UNICEF will continue to prioritize lifesaving initiatives for the most vulnerable populations, while also strengthening national capacities and preparedness for prompt and effective humanitarian responses to uphold children's rights.
