Silent victims

The degree of suffering in Afghanistan is nearly unprecedented. The political and socioeconomic developments of 2021, with government transitions and implications for basic services and financial systems, have brought further turmoil to a country.

Afghanistan was already one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a child. Over the past year, the situation has become even more desperate as conflict, drought, and COVID-19 have collided to create a humanitarian emergency.  

Hunger levels are rising, with increasing food prices and the combined effects of COVID-19, the climate crisis, conflict and disruption to aid efforts. And now winter is here.

Children are living in communities that are running out of water because of drought. They’re missing out on life-saving vaccines. By early 2022, acute malnutrition was above emergency thresholds in 27 of 34 provinces and rapidly worsening.

Severe winter weather conditions are increasing the risk of pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Illness as families struggle to heat their homes and keep their children warm.

Children living in high altitude regions are especially vulnerable and require urgent life-saving assistance including winter clothing, blankets and fuel for heating.

Millions of children continue to need essential services, including primary healthcare, lifesaving vaccines against polio and measles, nutrition, education, protection, shelter, water and sanitation. They require urgent funding to ensure the country’s health systems don’t collapse.

 

_{Source and Credit: UNICEF, Save the Children}