Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
- Nearly 130 million people, including 65 million children, need humanitarian support in the region.
The 10 countries directly covered in this regional appeal have approximately 30 million people, including 18 million children in need of humanitarian support due to climate-related shocks, health emergencies (including COVID-19), conflict, economic deterioration and displacement.
Countries are also struggling with poverty and food insecurity.
- In collaboration with partners, UNICEF will deliver life-saving services for children, women and families affected by climatic shocks and disease outbreaks, including populations living in displacement and refugee camps.
Emphasis will be on mitigating disruptions of emergency response resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, while ensuring the continuity of essential services.
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UNICEF will work with women and youth leaders and community-based organizations and integrate gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response across sectors and localize capacities for emergency preparedness and response, improve accountability to affected communities, prevent and address sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), and build shock-responsive systems for better child-centered resilience.
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UNICEF is appealing for US$68.1 million to address humanitarian and COVID-19-specific needs in the region.
IN NEED
40 million people in need of nutrition assistance
3.7 million children in need of SAM treatment
105 million Children in need of emergency health assistance
25.1 million people lack access to safe water
25 million Children out of school in need of education
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION
Nearly 30 million people, including 18 million children, need humanitarian support in the 10 countries covered in this regional appeal due to climate-related shocks, including impact on food insecurity, malnutrition, health emergencies (including COVID-19), conflict, economic deterioration and displacement.
The region is also facing growing risks to public health, with countries at risk of cholera, dengue fever, measles, malaria and COVID-19, which is continuing to threaten countries in Eastern and Southern Africa.
COVID-19 cases in the region continue to increase due to lowest vaccination rates, with countries like South Africa with highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths in Africa. In addition to causing loss of life, the pandemic is disrupting routine health and nutrition services.
Although nearly 17.9 million people need urgent health care, the number of mothers, pregnant women, children and people with chronic conditions who are seeking health care is declining. In addition, nearly 25.1 million people need clean water and sanitation and hygiene (WASH) support. Countries in the region are also struggling with poverty and food insecurity, with 40 million people in need of nutrition services.
Country-wide school closures have not only disrupted learning – but previous to the COVID-19 closures, there were already more than 25 million children out of school, among the highest rates in the world proportional to the population. Prolonged school closures are exposing children, especially girls, to heightened protection risks, including gender-based violence (GBV), harmful practices, exploitation and abuse, and also affecting their mental health and well-being.
Humanitarian emergencies and extreme poverty are driving waves of internal and external displacements, with almost 2 million refugee children and 1.8 million internally displaced children in the region.