UNICEF asks for $2 billion to save Afghan children

The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) today (7) requested $2 billion from donors to respond to the serious humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and treat 1 million children with acute malnutrition.

According to UNICEF representative Alice Akunga, half of the children under the age of five in Afghanistan will be severely malnourished by 2022 due to the food crisis and the collapse of health infrastructure

The UN agency recalled that in 2021 more than 60,000 measles cases were reported and 10 million children may have dropped out of school.

This is the largest request ever made by UNICEF, funding needed to "prevent the collapse of health, nutrition and other social services vital to children and families".

The fund aims to treat 1 million children with acute malnutrition and vaccinate 10.5 million children against measles, in addition to guaranteeing access to education for 7.5 million school-age children.

"We have to remember our humanity and do everything we can to keep children alive, well fed, safe and learning," said Akunga.

Afghanistan is going through a serious economic and humanitarian crisis, which rose to unprecedented levels after the Taliban came to power on August 15, as a result of international economic sanctions, in particular by the United States (USA), to prevent the access of leaders to the international financial system.

The sanctions have caused enormous damage to the Afghan economy, leaving the population dependent on the distribution of humanitarian aid.

Although the US has not recognized the Taliban government, there are several open issues in the relationship between the two countries, related to matters of human rights and the fight against terrorism.

Text translated using artificial intelligence.