UNICEF seeks US$84.9 million for El Niño emergency response in Zimbabwe

HARARE – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today issued an urgent appeal for US$84.9 million to support its emergency operations in Zimbabwe.

The funding targets to provide critical aid to children and women affected by the El Niño-induced crisis, aiming to reach 1.34 million individuals, including 866,000 children, amidst escalating humanitarian challenges compounded by acute water and food scarcities.

Zimbabwe is grappling with a severe El Niño emergency, disproportionately affecting children under five, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescents. The challenges created by El Niño in Zimbabwe come at a time when public health concerns, including cholera and polio outbreaks, have thrusted the nation into a multifaceted humanitarian predicament.

The drought conditions, a direct consequence of El Niño, are precipitating a myriad of health complications for children, such as disease outbreaks, infectious and respiratory ailments, and heightened malnutrition rates. The anticipated water shortages are likely to exacerbate the spread of diarrheal diseases and other water-related illnesses, particularly among children weakened by nutritional deficiencies. Furthermore, the drought is intensifying poverty and vulnerability at the household level, elevating the risks of educational discontinuation, violence, and exploitation of children.

Dr. Nicholas Alipui, Acting UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe, expressed deep concern for the heightened vulnerability of children amid this 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,” he stated.

The UNICEF appeal is part of the broader UN inter-agency effort recently initiated to bolster the Zimbabwean Government’s emergency response to the El Niño situation.

“UNICEF’s appeal focusses primarily on ensuring – in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe and partners – continued access of children and their caregivers to integrated health, water, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, education and child protection services,” UNICEF added in a statement.

“We are urging the donor community to generously support UNICEF’s appeal, emphasizing the critical need to secure children’s rights to health, education, and protection during this crisis.”

Dr Alipui, stressed: “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.”

“The requested funds are vital to reducing child morbidity and mortality, averting malnutrition and facilitating treatment, improving water access, maintaining educational continuity for children, and shielding them from abuse and exploitation.

Additionally, the support will fortify household resilience in navigating the crisis,” Dr. Alipui added.

The ongoing drought’s ramifications are projected to persistently affect child nutrition into the subsequent year, as domestic food production and reserves are expected to be substantially diminished.

In light of El Niño’s lasting impact on Zimbabwe’s children and other vulnerable groups, sustained assistance remains imperative in the months ahead.