Current floods in Afghanistan killed about 350 folks, together with dozens of youngsters, broken greater than 7,800 houses and displaced greater than 5,000 households.
Since then, UNICEF has supplied Afghan communities with protected consuming water and hygiene merchandise together with cleaning soap, toothbrushes and extra. UNICEF additionally organizes hygiene programs to show civilians about handwashing and protected water storage throughout pure disasters.
Dr. Tajuddin Oyewale, UNICEF Consultant in Afghanistan, stated the worldwide neighborhood ought to “redouble your efforts and dedication Assist communities to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of local weather change on kids.
UNICEF can also be supporting Afghan civilians, offering money help to assist households meet primary wants and deploying well being and diet groups to deal with the sick and injured. As well as, the company distributed heat clothes, blankets and family provides to households who misplaced their property.
Local weather disaster intensifies
UNICEF reviews that current flash floods in Afghanistan have revealed a “rising local weather disaster” that’s “rising in frequency and depth”, inflicting lack of lives and livelihoods and damaging infrastructure.
Dr Oyewal stated UNICEF and members of the humanitarian neighborhood wanted to arrange for “the brand new actuality of climate-related disasters”.
“The rising quantity and severity of maximum climate occasions requires a sooner and bigger humanitarian response from UNICEF and different humanitarian actors,” she says. “However this may solely be achieved via enhanced preparedness measures, reminiscent of better pre-positioning of emergency aid provides and enhanced coordination with companions.”
She additionally stated UNICEF must give attention to serving to communities adapt to local weather and environmental shocks to cut back civilians’ dependence on humanitarian support.
Youngsters’s Local weather Danger Index
UNICEF stated Afghanistan ranks fifteenth out of 163 nations based on its 2021 Little one Local weather Danger Index, which means kids there are notably weak to local weather and environmental shocks. Nevertheless, Afghanistan is alleged to be one of many nations least liable for inflicting local weather issues.
Dr. Oyewale stated heavy rainfall shouldn’t deliver catastrophe to Afghan kids.
“We have to prioritize kids’s distinctive wants in decision-making Meet these wants now and shield kids from future disasters whereas investing within the important companies they depend on,” she stated.