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Mashudu Mambo
United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) is advocating for an increase in child-centred climate investments to reduce the risks caused by climate change on children.
The campaign is running under the theme, “Invest in Climate, Invest in Children”. Chief of Communications for Unicef, Yves Willemot said climate change has brought in several challenges like malnutrition for children.
“El Nino’s 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 diarrhoeal and other water-scarce diseases, among children exacerbated by reduced immunity in children because of malnutrition. The El Nino-induced drought is increasing household’s poverty and vulnerability and the risk of school dropouts and violence and abuse and exploitation against children,” said Willemot.
He said there was a need to strengthen the resilience of households to deal with climate-related emergencies.
“There is a need to scale-up climate resilient programmes to ensure continued access to health, education, water and sanitation services, nutrition and child protection services for children during climate-induced crises.
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a strong El Nino event, compared in severity to the 2015-16 El Nino. The effects of this El Nino will continue to impact child nutrition until March 2025,” said Willemot.
Unicef is appealing for funds to help vulnerable children and women in dealing with this challenge.
“Unicef is urgently appealing for USD 84.9 million to fund its emergency response aimed at assisting children and women affected by the El Nino crisis in Zimbabwe.
This funding will provide life-saving interventions to 1.34 million people, including 866,000 children, amidst a complex humanitarian crisis exacerbated by water and food shortages,” said Willemot.
Online Reporter