The UN Children’s Fund has appealed for 2.2 billion dollars to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance in 2014 to 85 million people, including 59 million children.
This is contained in a statement by Mr Geoffrey Njoku, Communications Specialist, UNICEF Nigeria Country Office in Abuja on Friday.
The statement noted that the children were those who faced conflict, natural disasters and other complex emergencies
in 50 countries.
It quoted Ted Chaiban, UNICEF’s Director of Emergency Programmes as saying “ I have just returned from South Sudan, the latest large-scale conflict to disrupt the lives of millions of innocent children.
“Over 400,000 children and their families have been displaced by the conflict, and over 3.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
“The rainy season is coming and we need to preposition supplies and reinforce essential services, for which we need urgent funding to prevent a catastrophe.
“The children of South Sudan join millions of others affected by conflict in the Central African Republic and Syria.
“But while today’s headlines focus on these complex, under-funded crises, many other desperate situations also require immediate funding and urgent humanitarian assistance.
“These include Afghanistan, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Somalia and Yemen, and other countries reflected in UNICEF’s appeal. ’’
It noted that for Syria and the sub-region, UNICEF appealed for 835 million dollars to deliver life-saving assistance including immunisation, water and sanitation.
Others are education, and protection; and to support the social cohesion and peace-building skills needed to build a
more sustainable future.
It added that the funds raised from the appeal would help UNICEF in its work with partners to strengthen communities’ abilities to cope with future conflict or natural disaster shocks.
The statement added that it would be done by reinforcing national preparation systems and developing resilience among children and communities.
It stated that this year’s contributions would allow the organisation to build on its work in 2013, during which “24.5 million children were immunizsd against measles, nearly 20 million people provided with access to safe water for drinking , cooking and bathing.
“ 2.7 million children were provided with access to improved education, both formal and non-formal, 1.9 million children treated for severe acute malnutrition and 935,000 children reached with psychological support. ’’
