ABOUT 45 million children in eastern and southern Africa are at high risk of contracting diseases caused by climate change, a top United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) official has said.
Unicef regional director for eastern and southern Africa, Eva Kadilli, said the climate change crisis is a real threat to children through disease outbreaks and malnutrition.
“In the region, 45 million children are living through multiple and often overlapping crises intensified by climate change, including cholera outbreaks, malnutrition, drought and floods,” Kadilli said in a Press statement.
“The climate crisis is a real threat to children and communities in eastern and southern Africa. The very elements that children need to survive and thrive, including clean water, food, shelter, learning and safety, are being impacted by climate shocks. School closures disrupt education gains that were made.
“Communities who depend on agriculture face crop loss, resulting in children becoming malnourished or being forced to work to support income generation. Challenges in accessing clean water expose children to disease, affect livelihoods and cause forced displacement.”
Kadilli added that southern African countries including Zimbabwe faced a humanitarian crisis because of El-nino.
“Over the weekend, the President of Malawi declared a state of disaster in 23 out of the 28 districts in the country, due to El Niño conditions. Inadequate rains, floods and prolonged dry spells have led to severe damage to crops and food production, impacting two million households.
“In Zimbabwe, the El Niño phenomenon has disrupted rainfall patterns, leading to prolonged drought. Families are grappling with food insecurity, water scarcity and heightened vulnerability including to violence and exploitation. These challenges come at a time when the country is also responding to cholera and polio outbreaks, potentially leading to a severe crisis for children,” she said.
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She added: “Distressingly, extreme weather is expected to be the norm in eastern and southern Africa in the years to come. As we work to improve the resilience of children, families and communities by strengthening shock responsive social services, we must also come together to reduce the effects of climate change on vulnerable populations in the region.”
