Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
In the 11 countries covered in this Eastern and Southern Africa regional appeal,2 approximately 38 million people, including 23 million children,3 are in need of humanitarian support due to climate-related shocks, health emergencies, conflict and civil unrest, economic deterioration and displacement.
In collaboration with partners, in these 11 countries UNICEF will deliver life-saving services for children, women and families affected by emergencies, including 860,000 people living in displacement and refugee camps.4 Advocacy for education will be prioritized to address learning losses incurred during emergencies.
UNICEF will work with women, youth leaders and community-based organizations to strengthen capacities for emergency preparedness and response. The goal is to build shock-responsive and climate adaptive systems for better child-centred resilience. UNICEF will continue to address gender-based violence prevention, mitigation and response, including protection from sexual exploitation and abuse; and will promote disability inclusion and accountability to affected communities.
UNICEF is appealing for US$45 million to address humanitarian needs in the 11 countries covered in the regional appeal.
IN NEED
16.1 million people in need of health assistance
7.6 million people in need of nutrition assistance
6.1 million children in need of protection services
3 million out of school children
16.6 million people lack access to safe water
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION
Nearly 38 million people, including 23 million children,13 need humanitarian support in the 11 countries covered in this regional appeal. Climate-related shocks (including their impact on food insecurity), malnutrition, health emergencies (including Ebola, cholera, measles and polio),14 civil unrest and conflict, economic deterioration and displacement are the major drivers of humanitarian need. People in need of assistance are as follows:
Botswana: 38,000; Burundi: 1.8 million; the Comoros: 345,000;
Eswatini: 347,000; Malawi: 3 million; Namibia: 441,000; South Africa: 14 million; United Republic of Tanzania: 750,000; Zambia: 11 million; Lesotho: 582,000; and Rwanda: 4 million.15 These countries are home to about 860,000 refugees, asylum-seekers and people of concern.16 They also continue to struggle with the residual impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and a global economic downturn. These have disrupted routine services,17 predisposing children to the risks of disease and death.
Sixteen million people need urgent health care in the 11 countries,18 and about 17 million people need clean water and sanitation and hygiene (WASH) support.19 Poverty and food insecurity have left 7.6 million people in need of nutrition support20 and other basic services (health, WASH, education, protection and other services).21 Disrupted learning driven by emergencies, including the residual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, affects children's education in a context where more than 3 million children are out of school in these 11 countries.
The risks of gender-based violence, including sexual violence, exploitation and abuse and intimate partner violence are becoming even more acute in the region. This is due to drought, widespread food insecurity, displacements, conflict and public health emergencies. Female-headed households, older women, adolescent girls and those with disabilities face heightened vulnerabilities to sexual violence, exploitation and abuse, and greater risk of child marriage and female genital mutilation during emergencies. Extreme poverty is exacerbated by emergencies, and this is also driving displacements.22 Humanitarian needs are further compounded by the negative impact of climate in the region which is witnessing an increase in the frequency, severity and scale of climate hazards.