Some 20.2 million children are at risk of severe hunger, thirst and disease due to climate change, conflict, global inflation and food shortages – compared to 10 million in July.
“While collective and swift efforts have mitigated some of the worst effects of the outbreak, children in the Horn of Africa are still facing the most severe drought in more than two generations”, Having said unicef Leeke van de Wiel, Deputy Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa.
millions of hungry
Nearly two million children in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia need urgent treatment for severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form of hunger.
Meanwhile, water insecurity has more than doubled, with nearly 24 million people now facing severe water scarcity.
At the same time, the drought has internally displaced more than two million people and forced nearly 2.7 million children out of school, with an additional four million others at risk of dropping out.
“Humanitarian aid must continue to save lives and counter the growing number of children and families who are being marginalized – dying of hunger and disease and losing access to food, water and pasture for their livestock.” are being displaced in search”, Ms van de Wiel said.
teetering on the edge
As rising tensions push families to the edge, youth are facing child labor, child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM).
And widespread food insecurity and displacement are triggering sexual violence, exploitation, abuse and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV).
“We urgently need a global effort to mobilize resources to avert further catastrophic and irreversible damage to children in the Horn of Africa,” the senior UNICEF official added.
to lend a hand
Thanks to the generous support of donors and partners, UNICEF continues to provide life-saving services to children and families in the Horn of Africa, as it prepares for further aftershocks, builds resilience and strengthens key services.
This year, the UN agency and its partners reached nearly two million children and women with essential health services; Nearly two million people between the ages of six months and 15 years were vaccinated against measles; and provided safe water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene to more than 2.7 million people.
UNICEF’s emergency appeal of $759 million in 2023 to support children and their families will require timely and flexible funding, particularly around education, water and sanitation, and child protection – which will be critically shorted this year were few.
An additional $690 million is needed to support long-term investments to help children and their families recover and adapt to climate change.
“As governments and people around the world prepare to welcome the new year, we urge the international community to answer now for whatever may happen on the Horn of Africa next year and in the years to come.” committed to deliver”, Ms van de Wiel appealed.
“We must act now to save children’s lives, uphold their dignity and protect their future”.