Kabul, 16 December 2018 – The People and Government of Republic of Korea has donated around USD 2.2 million in support of most vulnerable children and women affected by displacement due to drought.
The contribution will protect 21,000 families, more than half are children, from the harsh winter season.
With the onset of the winter the situation is quite dire,” says Adele Khodr, UNICEF Afghanistan Representative.
Children who are already suffering from malnutrition and weak immune systems are more vulnerable to cold winter weather, and I thank UNICEF for taking the lead in helping those children in a prompt and timely manner.” The internally displaced children are in desperate need of assistance.
Many continue to live in makeshift structures, tents and inadequate shelters that will expose them to sub-zero temperatures, heavy snow and strong winds.
Of the over 19,000 children screened in the provincial Herat and Badghis IDP settlements, more than 1,300 were found to be severe acute malnutrition (SAM) cases and were referred for treatment at facilities in both provinces.
Over 3 million people including an estimated 1.6 million children are affected by the impact of drought across the country.
The number of food insecure population is likely to increase to over 6 million people during the winter season.
UNICEF will continue to prioritize its winterization response.
Media Contacts Alison Parker Chief, Communication, Advocacy and Civic Engagement UNICEF Afghanistan Tel: +93 (0) 730 72 71 10 Email:aparker@unicef.org Feridoon Aryan Communication Officer UNICEF Afghanistan Tel: +93 (0) 730 72 71 15 Email: faryan@unicef.org