UNICEF urges for funds to protect children from climate change at COP27

Sharm El Sheikh, 9 November 2022 (TDI): According to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), massive flooding has affected at least 27.7 million children in 27 countries. Among them are Pakistan, Chad, Gambia, and northeast Bangladesh.

The UN agency said in its alert on Tuesday, as the COP27 in Egypt continues. It stated that a large percentage of the affected children are among the most vulnerable. The ongoing disasters are taxing the capacity of governments and the international.

With millions of children at severe risk of starvation, disease, exploitation, and death, UNICEF is asking delegates at COP27 for funding to protect children from changing climate.

Moreover, UNICEF says that this year, floods have contributed to the increased spread of major killers of children. Such as malnutrition, malaria, cholera, and diarrhea, and that the aftermath of floods is often more deadly.

Also, in Sindh and Balochistan, children taken to medical facilities were discovered to be suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

Sudan, Nigeria, Yemen

Also, floods in South Sudan have hampered the provision of 92,000 children. Life-saving and preventative malnutrition interventions at 95 UNICEF-supported nutrition centers.

Recent floods in Nigeria resulted in the displacement of 840,000 children, according to estimates. Additionally, Floods in Yemen severely damaged shelters. 24,000 households have been relocated, and up to 73,854 households were affected.

Paloma Escudero, Director of Global Communications and Advocacy at UNICEF, said, “COP27 gives a chance to chart a credible roadmap with concrete milestones for money for climate adaptation and solutions for loss and damage.”

Paloma went on to say that “children from the most devastated regions on Earth are drowning in climate inaction. It is already enough. Intervention is urgently needed for children because lives are at risk.”

Lifesaving adaptation techniques include developing water, health, and education systems that can withstand flooding and drought.

According to Paloma Escudero, “many more vulnerable children and young people will lose their lives in the days and weeks if urgent action is not taken. And if nothing is done about the climate, millions will suffer like in Pakistan.”

Also, UNICEF is encouraging authorities to protect children from climate crises by modifying vital social services. In addition, asking governments and large businesses to decrease emissions.