UNICEF: Drought in parts of Africa puts children "one disease away from catastrophe"
August 24, 2022, 8:13 am

UNICEF

UNICEF warned on Tuesday (August 23) that children in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel could die in devastating numbers unless urgent support is provided, as severe malnutrition and the risk of water-borne disease collide.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell: "History shows that when high levels of severe acute malnutrition in children combine with deadly outbreaks of diseases like cholera or diarrhea, child mortality rises dramatically -- and tragically. When water either isn't available or is unsafe, the risks to children multiply exponentially.”

She said: "Across the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, millions of children are just one disease away from catastrophe.”

The number of drought-hit people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia without reliable access to safe water jumped from 9.5 million in February to 16.2 million in July, putting children and their families in increased danger of contracting illnesses like cholera and diarrhea, said UNICEF, the Xinhua reported.

"Across the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, millions of children are just one disease away from catastrophe.” (File photo: Pixabay)

Some 40 million children face high to extremely high levels of water vulnerability in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger and Nigeria as drought, conflict and insecurity are driving water insecurity, it said.

More than 2.8 million children in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel are already suffering from severe acute malnutrition, which means they are up to 11 times more at risk of dying from water-borne diseases than well-nourished children, it said.

UNICEF: Nearly 1,000 children killed or injured in Ukraine-Russia war

In Somalia, outbreaks of acute watery diarrhea and cholera have been reported in almost all drought-affected districts, with 8,200 cases reported between January and June, more than double the number of cases reported during the same period last year, said UNICEF.

UNICEF said it is providing life-saving aid and resilient multisectoral services to children and their families in dire need across the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, but its appeal to improve families' long-term resilience in the Horn of Africa region is currently only 3 percent funded, and the appeal for the Central Sahel region to meet the needs of vulnerable children and families with water, sanitation, and hygiene programs is only 22 percent funded.

Droughts may affect more than 75% of world’s population by 2050

Russell said: "Families across drought-impacted regions are being forced into impossible choices. The only way to stop this crisis is for governments, donors, and the international community to step up funding to meet children's most acute needs, and provide long-term flexible support to break the cycle of crisis.”

Source: xinhua

Sunak, Truss take part in UK leadership debate in Birmingham Sweden’s prime minister calls for end to ethnic enclaves in big cities

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”