UNICEF is urgently appealing for US$26.8 million in 2024 to address the critical humanitarian needs of two million people, including 978,611 children, in Zimbabwe.
The country is grappling with a multitude of challenges, including an El Niño-induced drought, a protracted cholera outbreak, a polio outbreak, an economic crisis, and the looming threat of a monkeypox outbreak.
Despite receiving US$10.5 million (39% of the total funding requirement) from various donors, the UNICEF funding gap remains significant.
UNICEF has received support from donors including the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Central Emergency Response Fund, the Government of Japan, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF Global Humanitarian Thematic Funds.
The funds will enable UNICEF to provide essential humanitarian assistance, such as clean water, sanitation, health services, nutrition, and education to the most affected populations.
Additionally, the funding will support UNICEF’s efforts to prevent and respond to outbreaks of diseases like cholera, polio, and monkeypox.
Private sector partners have also stepped in to support UNICEF’s efforts. Alliance Media and JCDecaux have provided valuable in-kind support through digital billboard space for critical messaging, while Universal Postal Services has provided essential cash-in-kind logistics support for essential commodities.
UNICEF called on governments, corporations, and individuals to contribute to the appeal and help alleviate the suffering of children and families in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe faces a complex crisis, driven by the climate-related El Niño induced drought, economic instability, and public health emergencies, including cholera and polio outbreaks.
The country is facing one of the worst droughts in 40 years which is estimated to affect 50% of the population, of which half of the affected population are children.
The aftermath of the El Niño-induced drought has left 7.6 million people including 3.5 million children in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, protection, and livelihood support, to recover from losses and rebuild resilience.
The 2023/24 El Niño-induced drought resulted in massive crop failure and depletion of water resources
and pastures in Zimbabwe.
UNICEF said the impacts of the El Niño drought are expected to worsen in the latter part of 2024 up to early 2025, leading to increased moderate and life-threatening severe malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and health issues among children.
The El Niño-induced drought caused compounding humanitarian consequences on food security, nutrition, health, water sanitation and hygiene, education, social protection, shelter, agriculture, energy,
infrastructure, and cross-cutting issues including gender inequality and child rights violation.
