The European Union has allocated an additional €13mn through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) to address severe acute malnutrition and improve education in Afghanistan. This funding will support over 78,000 children across the country.
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With this contribution, UNICEF will supply 62,000 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and train 1,600 health workers to combat severe acute malnutrition among children under five. Additionally, the funding will enhance the quality of 275 community-based education classes, benefiting 9,500 children, including 61% girls. This will involve teacher training, the establishment of school management committees, and the provision of essential school supplies.
In Afghanistan, 23.7mn people, over half of whom are children, are in need of humanitarian aid this year. Nearly 2.9mn children are projected to face acute malnutrition in 2024, with more than 850,000 requiring treatment for severe cases. Education remains a critical issue, with over half of Afghan children not attending primary school, according to the 2023 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey.
“The malnutrition rates in Afghanistan, particularly among children, highlight the urgent need for support. The EU will continue collaborating with partners like UNICEF to provide essential nutrition and education services, ensuring that even in the midst of this crisis, children have access to quality education that will help them build a better future,” François Goemans, Head of EU Humanitarian Aid in Afghanistan, emphasized.
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This two-year initiative will focus on treating approximately 69,000 children under five for malnutrition across 27 provinces. It will also support nearly 9,500 children and adolescents in four provinces with community-based education, fostering foundational skills and emotional development. Emergency teaching supplies will be distributed across all 34 provinces.
Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, emphasized the importance of EU humanitarian aid, stating that the funding will facilitate the delivery of RUTF to critical areas and provide training for health workers, ensuring children receive essential treatment and educational support.
Over the past four years, EU humanitarian aid has enabled UNICEF to provide safe water, community-based education, child protection services, emergency cash transfers, and malnutrition treatment, impacting the lives of vulnerable children in Afghanistan.
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