United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, says in its warning on Tuesday as the COP27 Climate Conference continues, that the majority of children affected are among the most vulnerable and that the resulting disasters are straining governments’ ability to respond. government and the international community, with a huge scale of demand.
With millions of children at great risk of hunger, disease, exploitation and death, the agency is calling on delegates at COP27 to commit to funding to protect children from the devastating effects of the climate. change.
Deadly flood water
UNICEF says that this year, floods have contributed to the increased spread of child killers, such as malnutrition, malaria, cholera and diarrhea, and the aftermath of the often fatal floods. children rather than extreme weather events that cause flooding. .
In Pakistan, more than one in nine children under 5 years of age admitted to health facilities in flood-affected areas of Sindh and Balochistan, were found to be severely malnourished.
In South Sudan, 95 UNICEF-supported nutrition sites were affected by flooding, hindering the delivery of life-saving and malnutrition prevention services to 92,000 children.
An estimated 840,000 children have been displaced by floods in Nigeria in recent months.
Heavy rains and flooding in Yemen caused flooding that caused extensive damage to shelters at relocation sites. Up to 73,854 households were affected and 24,000 households were displaced.
Children find their way home through polluted flood water in Jacobabad, Sindh province, Pakistan.
‘Drowning in inaction’
“COP27 provides an opportunity to map out a credible road map with clear milestones for climate adaptation financing and solutions,” said Paloma Escudero, UNICEF Global Director of Advocacy and Communication. recover loss and damage”.
She added that young people “from the hardest hit places on Earth are drowning because of climate inaction. Enough is enough. Life is on the edge – kids need to act now. “
Adaptation is the key
As well as urging governments and big business to reduce emissions quickly, UNICEF is calling on leaders to take immediate action to protect children from the ravages of the climate by regulating social services. important society you depend on.
Adaptation measures, such as creating water, health and education systems that are resistant to floods and droughts, will save lives.
Paloma Escudero said that “without urgent action, many more vulnerable children and young people will lose their lives in the days and weeks ahead. And without climate action, hundreds of millions more will almost certainly be affected like those in Pakistan.”
The Chari and Logone rivers overflow in N’Djamena, after the heaviest rainy season in Chad in thirty years.
