Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism – UNICEF Afghanistan Representative Fran Equiza’s warned against children situation on Afghanistan.
She said, Because in what is a deeply troubled country, grappling with humanitarian catastrophe, climate-related disasters, and egregious human rights abuses, too many people have forgotten that Afghanistan is a children’s crisis.
She continued, It’s a crisis that’s getting worse. Today, an estimated 90 per cent of Afghans are on the brink of poverty. Children bear the brunt of it. 2.3 million children are expected to face acute malnutrition in 2023. 875,000 of them need treatment for severe acute malnutrition – a life-threatening condition.
Fran Equiza added, Also, this year, around 840,000 pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers are likely to experience acute malnutrition, jeopardising their ability to give their babies the best start in life.And although the fighting has, for the most part, stopped, decades of conflict mean that every day, children’s rights are violated in the most appalling ways. Afghanistan is one of the most weapons-contaminated countries in the world. Most of the casualties are children.
She ended, So, we’re urging the international community to rally together and help us alleviate the suffering of children, women and families in Afghanistan. This plight is not of their making. Together, we can – and so we must — make their lives healthier and more hopeful. But we need urgent help now.