In the next 12 months, essential health, nutrition, education, water & sanitation and child protection services will be provided to up to 30,000 people in four provinces of the country
Kabul, Afghanistan, 22 September 2020: the Government of the Republic of Korea has contributed US$ 2 million in humanitarian assistance to UNICEF in the areas of Health, Nutrition, Education, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) and Child Protection through two separate projects to be implemented in four provinces of Afghanistan (Daikundi, Herat, Balkh, Nangarhar). The intervention will last for a period of twelve months and will reach more than 30,000 girls, boys, women, and men, providing them with increased access to basic services.
Thanks to the Korean support, UNICEF will be able to support up to 19,000 persons in hard-to-reach communities in Daikundi province. Through an integrated package of multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance, this contribution will equip education and health facilities to guarantee improved learning and health outcomes in the community, as well as strengthen the delivery of nutrition and WASH services at community level. This funding will also provide urgent humanitarian assistance to offset the impact of conflict, winter and drought. To promote sustainable improvements, communities will be encouraged to participate in community awareness and engagement activities.
“Thanks to its multi-sectoral expertise, UNICEF has a strong advantage in supporting the Government and partners to deliver integrated services to the population, and has been doing so for years”, says Dr Aboubacar Kampo, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan. “By delivering several different services in the same community, the intervention will have a multiplier effect and add more value compared to a single-sector response”.
The contribution will also contribute to protecting children in Herat, Balkh and Nangarhar provinces against violence, abuse and exploitation. A total of 5,500 children will be supported to re-integrate in their communities after being released from armed groups and armed forces, as well as receiving information on how to avoid the risk of land mines. The project will also support tailored responses to gender-based violence, and promote awareness of child protection issues with 5,500 members in the community. Activities are part of the 2020-2021 Child Protection Plan, agreed and signed between UNICEF and relevant line ministries in January 2020.
While strengthening the capacity of Government and partners to undertake emergency interventions, the initiatives will also contribute to longer-term development outcomes in Afghanistan. Activities will build capacity of government institutions over time, as well as enhance community participation to develop collective accountability towards social behavior change.
“In Afghanistan, 56 per cent of all people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2020 are children”, says H.E. Zha Hyoung Rhee, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Afghanistan. “We have a duty to ensure they can access quality basic, integrated services and that we build their resilience in the midst of recurring conflict and natural disasters in the country”.
The Republic of Korea is a long-time supporter of UNICEF in Afghanistan, with a support of US$ 43 million devoted to the wellbeing of children since 2015. Korean support in 2018-2019 contributed to help UNICEF reach over 3.7 million people with health, nutrition and winterization efforts across the country, from newborn children to adolescents, from female teachers to community members.
Media Contacts
Monica Awad
Communication Specialist
UNICEF Afghanistan
Tel: +93 (0) 799 98 71 11
Email: mawad@unicef.org
Feridoon Aryan
Communication Officer
UNICEF Afghanistan
Tel: +93 (0) 799 98 71 15
Email: faryan@unicef.org
UNICEF, as the only multi sectoral UN agency with one of the largest footprints in country, is providing technical and coordination support to the Government of Afghanistan and other partners at national and subnational level, across all regions. This includes support in key areas of health, risk communication and community engagement, water, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, education, protection and procurement. UNICEF has strategically shifted some of its available resources and infrastructure to respond to the COVID-19 crisis in the country.
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.For more information about UNICEF and its work for children in Afghanistan, visit www.unicef.org/afghanistan.
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Media Contacts
Monica Awad
Communication Specialist
UNICEF Afghanistan
Tel: +93 (0) 799 98 71 11
Email: mawad@unicef.org
Feridoon Aryan
Communication Officer
UNICEF Afghanistan
Tel: +93 (0) 799 98 71 15
Email: faryan@unicef.org