In this story:
- UNICEF’s appeal will provide emergency support to 866,000 children
- President Mnangagwa declares state of disaster
- Zim needs US$2 billion towards mitigation
UNICEF is urgently appealing for USD85 million to provide life-saving interventions to 1.34 million people, including 866,000 children affected by the El Nino crisis in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe is experiencing an El Nino emergency impacting severely children under five years, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescents. The challenges created by El Nino in Zimbabwe come at a time when the country is also faced with public health emergencies related to cholera and polio, putting Zimbabwe into a complex, multi-dimensional humanitarian crisis.
“We are particularly concerned about the vulnerability of children in this current emergency.
Decreased access to clean water and a poor diet heightens the risk of
malnutrition and diarrheal diseases among children and impacts
on their rights to education and protection
with the full impact of these intersecting factors expected to manifest only later.
Hence the need for a front-facing preventive strategy
to avert excess deaths in the months to come,” Dr Nicholas Alipui,
UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe said.
The El Nino-induced drought is creating numerous health issues affecting children, including disease outbreaks, infectious and respiratory illnesses, and increased levels of malnutrition. Water scarcity is expected to contribute to the spread of diarrheal and other water-scarce diseases among children exacerbated by reduced immunity in children because of malnutrition.
The drought is increasing household’s poverty and vulnerability and the risk of school dropouts and violence, and abuse and exploitation against children.
Drought a national disaster
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa declared the El Nino-drought a national state of disaster and said that Zimbabwe needs at least US$2 billion to mitigate the impact of the drought.
“Preliminary assessments show that Zimbabwe requires in excess of US$2 billion towards various interventions we envisage in the spectrum of our national response,” President Mnangagwa said.
The President appealed to Zimbabweans of goodwill, including those in the diaspora, the international community, United Nations agencies, development and humanitarian partners and international financial institutions.
The UNICEF appeal is part of the UN-interagency appeal recently launched to support the government’s response to the emergency caused by El Nino.
UNICEF’s appeal focusses primarily on ensuring – in collaboration with the government and partners – continued access of children and their caregivers to integrated health, water, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, education and child protection services.
“The funding will help mitigate child morbidity and mortality,
prevent malnutrition and provide treatment,
enhance water access, ensure continuous learning for children,
and protect children against abuse and exploitation.
It will also help strengthen the resilience
of household to deal with the crisis,” said Dr Alipui.
The effects of the current drought will continue to impact child nutrition into next year as household level food production and stocks will be severely depleted.
Given the enduring impact of El Nino on Zimbabwe’s children and vulnerable demographics, continued support will be crucial in the coming months.
