The United Nations Children's Fund today
issued a series of updates on emergency donor appeals. The reports detail
the humanitarian conditions of countries in crisis for which appeals were
launched in the beginning of 2002. Without an immediate infusion of donor
aid, UNICEF's capacity to assist children and their mothers will be hindered,
several reports reveal. Thier lives are threatened by disease, conflict,
hunger and poverty.
The reports portray the circumstances
in each country, achievements so far, unmet needs and their impact for
the remainder of the year.
Several appeals - coordinated under the auspices of the United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - are severely underfunded:
- Seven were funded below 25 per cent;
- 9 received only 25 to 50 per cent of their funding.
Among the appeals with immediate needs are: Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Indonesia, Somalia.
Upscaling programmes
In Angola positive political developments mean aid needs have increased from $18 million to $28.5 million. Funding is targeted towards healing a country that has been at war for years. Specific programmes in need of aid are: family tracing and unification, monitoring and reporting of child rights violations such as denial of health services, birth registration and establishing child-friendly spaces where children are able to play and learn in safety.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has initiated all the preparations for a major measles campaign in October, reaching some 15 million children in the first phase. But $10 million more is needed to purchase vaccines, arrange transportation and mobilize local health care providers. If successful, at least 27,000 young lives will be saved. Funds are needed this summer to ensure the measles campaign is ready to start on schedule.
In addition to the existing appeals, a major drought is affecting Southern Africa, in particular Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Lesotho. UNICEF is poised to respond in the areas of health, nutrition, water, sanitation and education.
Read the reports for:
Afghanistan, Angola, Burundi, Senegal, Colombia, Comoros, Korea, DPR , Congo, Democratic Republic of, East Timor, Eritrea, Georgia, Guinea, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Northern Caucasus, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Eastern Europe, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan