UNICEF Appeals for $84.9 Million to Support Children Amidst El Nino Crisis in Zim

By Charity Chikara

14.05.24

UNICEF has launched an urgent appeal for $84.9 million to provide emergency support to 866,000 children and 1.34 million people affected by the El Nino crisis in Zimbabwe.

Dr. Nicholas Alipui, UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe, expressed deep concern about the vulnerability of children in this crisis. Citing that limited access to clean water and inadequate nutrition increases the risk of malnutrition and diarrheal diseases, impacting children’s rights to education and protection.

The UNICEF appeal is part of the UN-interagency appeal, supporting the government’s response to the El Nino emergency. Dr. Alipui called on the donor community to generously support UNICEF’s appeal, emphasizing the critical need to secure children’s rights to health, education, and protection during this crisis.

The funding received will enable UNICEF to undertake critical interventions, including mitigating child morbidity and mortality, preventing malnutrition, improving water access, ensuring continuous learning opportunities, and protecting children from abuse and exploitation.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development is implementing the rural development 8.0 program. This program aims to irrigate 10,000 hectares of land, establish business units, and drill boreholes as robust drought mitigation measures.

The government’s commitment to improving horticulture activities and fish farming projects will enhance nutrition and income at the household level for rural communities.