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Afghanistan

UNICEF Humanitarian Action: Afghanistan Donor Update 30 Sep 2004

Attachments

TOWARD ADVANCEMENT OF AFGHAN CHILD'S AND WOMAN'S RIGHTS

A drought Flash Appeal issued by Government and UN to mitigate water shortage

Efforts continue to stop polio transmission among Afghan children

Education being brought to Afghan girls in communities without schools

Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration progressing for 5,000 former child soldiers

  1. EMERGENCY OVERVIEW AND CURRENT SITUATION

Today, the humanitarian situation of children in Afghanistan is strained not only by the continuing insecurity and violence, but also by the drought. In fact, large parts of Afghanistan are now facing severe drought, as highlighted in a new appeal by the Government of Afghanistan. 2004 was the sixth year in which rain and snowfall were significantly below average, exacerbating the chronic water shortage that has been plaguing the country since 1997. Populations are now threatened in at least 17 of 33 provinces across the country. This triggers the displacement of the population, mostly due to lack of drinking water. Available figures indicate that close to 4,000 people, with 3,000 displaced from Kandahar and Helmand provinces alone. But displacement could be much higher than documented so far, with people moving within their family support networks.