Kabul, 8 December 2021 (TDI): The office of UNICEF in Afghanistan launched its largest country appeal, for Afghanistan; on 7 December. According to UNICEF, that appeal is to respond to the humanitarian needs of over 24 million Afghans. Out of those 24 million Afghans, half of them are children.
UNICEF’S FINANCIAL APPEAL AND CURRENT SITUATION
According to the note, UNICEF’s appeal is to get 2 billion dollars to help the country. UNICEF stated that this funding will help them to avert the collapse of health, nutrition, WASH, education, and other services for families.
The organization also mentioned that due to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, there are disruptions in many areas. The note mentioned that those catastrophic disruptions have to see with health and nutrition services, the food crisis, drought, outbreaks of measles, polio, and other illnesses. Among those disruptions is the threat of the winter looming by.
STATEMENTS OF AKUNGA
UNICEF Afghanistan Representative, Alice Akunga, pronounced regarding the situation in Afghanistan. Akunga remarked that the current situation in the country is dire, especially for children. She then added that the winter already arrived and that without funding, UNICEF and their partners won’t be able to reach the families.
Akunga also mentioned that because the families struggle to put food on their table; millions of children are at risk of starvation. She expressed that access to water and sanitation is scarce for others, also they are cut from their schools; and are at risk of being victims of violence.
STATISTICS ACCORDING TO UNICEF
Furthermore, UNICEF is doing everything possible to protect the children, as the desperation of the families increases. Then the organization estimated that 1 in 2 children under five will be acutely malnourished in 2022. According to UNICEF, that is due to the food crisis, the scarce access to water, sanitation, and also hygiene services.
UNICEF warned that the outbreaks of dangerous diseases continue, as the country reported 60,000 cases of measles in 2021. UNICEF also estimated that 8 of 10 Afghans, are drinking bacteriologically contaminated water. The note then mentioned that 10 million children could potentially leave school if the teachers don’t receive their salaries, and poverty levels continue.
Regarding mental health and psychosocial support, UNICEF mentioned that almost 4.5 million children need mental assistance. UNICEF’s note also remarked the consequences of the winter, because the temperature in Afghanistan can reach -12 degrees; families have difficulty heating their houses.
The organization prioritizes life-saving interventions to provide vital services to protect the children. According to the note, UNICEF’s response will help ensure the continuity of essential services to prevent the collapse of systems. Among the objectives of UNICEF is to protect the rights of women and girls.
UNICEF PLANS IN AFGHANISTAN
Then the note mentioned the plans of the organization for the Afghan children. The first one is to treat 1 million children that suffer from severe acute malnutrition. The second is to vaccinate 10.5 million children against measles.
The third plan of UNICEF is to provide safe water for 11.5 million people. Then the fourth plan is to ensure the access of 7.5 million children to education. The last plan of the organization is to expand the use of humanitarian cash transfers to meet the basic needs of the families at risk.
AKUNGA’S REMARKS ON UNICEF’S CALL
Akunga mentioned that UNICEF urged donors to support Afghan children through its humanitarian appeal. She also added that it’s necessary to call to mind humanity and do everything to keep the children alive, safe, and well-fed. Akunga also said that it won’t be easy to achieve it, but as children’s lives are at stake, the world should rise to the challenge.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF UNICEF TO DONORS
She mentioned that UNICEF appealed to the international community to stand with them so that Afghan children can have a life, and a future. Then UNICEF thanked the support of their donors for their 2021 appeal. According to the organization, thanks to that appeal, UNICEF was able to provide life-saving services.
Among those services were ready-to-use therapeutic food to nourish starving children; water trucking to the most in need communities; education supplies to children, including girls. UNICEF also provided mobile health clinics to bring urgent medical care directly to vulnerable families and children in hard-to-reach areas.
