The UNICEF report reveals that 51 million children in Eastern and Southern Africa are at severe risk due to extreme weather patterns and food insecurity. Approximately 64 million children under five are trapped in food poverty exacerbated by climate change, political instability, and conflict. The report calls for urgent collective action to empower and protect these vulnerable children.
A recent report from the United Nations Children’s Fund reveals that 51 million children in eastern and southern Africa are facing dire consequences from extreme weather conditions. This report indicates that approximately one-third of children under five in Africa, totaling about 64 million, are experiencing severe food poverty, compounded by a myriad of challenges such as inequity, conflict, and climate effects that impede their development.
Many of these children are at risk of wasting, a lethal form of malnutrition directly threatening their survival. Their plight is further exacerbated by inadequate health and nutrition services, unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation facilities, limited access to education, and widespread poverty across the region.
The report highlights the significant impact of climate phenomena, such as El Niño and La Niña, along with severe weather events that have intensified outbreaks of cholera and mpox, contributing to malnutrition and various health crises affecting many children. Countries like Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, are experiencing heightened food insecurity, droughts, and disease outbreaks leading to declared states of emergency.
Currently in Malawi, nearly 9 million people, including 5 million children, are suffering due to erratic rainfall patterns resulting in flooding and long dry spells that devastate crops. Similarly, Zambia has declared a national emergency, attributing the plight of 6.5 million individuals, including 3 million children, to drought followed by floods, escalating food insecurity and health risks such as cholera.
In Zimbabwe, enduring drought conditions have severely diminished food and water supplies, increasing the risk of violence and disease outbreaks, particularly cholera and polio. The UNICEF report emphasizes that collective action is crucial to address the ongoing crisis, stating that a unified effort is essential to protect and empower children in the region.
To counter these pressing challenges, UNICEF is promoting climate-smart programming in communities aimed at enhancing resilience against climate shocks. The agency collaborates with various stakeholders to empower children and young adolescents while strengthening adaptive capacities against extreme weather threats.
The report also notes that UNICEF is striving to minimize its carbon emissions via sustainable energy alternatives, constituting a pivotal strategy to foster hope through empowerment and protective measures. This multifaceted approach is vital for addressing the urgent humanitarian needs of vulnerable children and confronting the adverse effects of climate change and associated phenomena.
The report by UNICEF underscores the critical impact of climate change in eastern and southern Africa, particularly on children. It emphasizes the interplay of extreme weather phenomena, such as El Niño and La Niña, with existing socio-economic challenges, highlighting the urgent need for combined efforts to mitigate these crises and protect vulnerable populations, especially children. The report lays bare the dire humanitarian situation, calling for immediate action from various entities to support the affected communities.
In summary, the humanitarian crisis facing children in eastern and southern Africa is exacerbated by the climate crisis, severe food insecurity, and health risks due to extreme weather events. With millions of children at risk of severe malnutrition and other health issues, the need for urgent collective action is paramount. Through climate-smart initiatives and a commitment to protecting vulnerable populations, UNICEF aims to alleviate the suffering of these children and improve their future prospects.
Original Source: global.chinadaily.com.cn
