London (UNA-OIC) – Around 10 million children across Afghanistan need humanitarian assistance to survive, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said Monday.
An estimated 1 million children are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition over the course of this year and could die without treatment, according to a statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.
She explained that an estimated 4.2 million children are out of school, including more than 2.2 million girls. Since January, the UN has documented over 2,000 grave violations of children’s rights. Approximately 435,000 children and women are internally displaced.
“This is the grim reality facing Afghan children and it remains so regardless of ongoing political developments and changes in government.
“We anticipate that the humanitarian needs of children and women will increase over the coming months amidst severe drought and consequent water scarcity, the devastating socioeconomic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of winter,” said Ms. Fore.
“That is why, after 65 years in Afghanistan striving to improve the lives of children and women, UNICEF will remain on the ground now and in the days to come. We are deeply committed to the country’s children and there is far more work to be done on their behalf,” she added.
The UNICEF chief went on to say that “Millions will continue to need essential services, including health, lifesaving vaccination drives against polio and measles, nutrition, protection, shelter, water and sanitation. In recent years, significant strides have been made on increasing girls’ access to education – it is vital that these gains are preserved and advocacy efforts continue so that all girls in Afghanistan receive a quality education.”
“Our commitment to Afghanistan’s children is unequivocal and our aim is to see that the rights of each and every one of them are realized and protected,” she asserted.
