The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched an urgent appeal for US$84.9 million to fund its emergency response aimed at assisting children and women affected by the El Nino crisis in Zimbabwe.
This funding will provide life-saving interventions to 1.34 million people, including 866,000 children, amidst a complex humanitarian crisis made worse by water and food shortages. Dr Nicholas Alipui, UNICEF Representative ai in Zimbabwe said:
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We are particularly concerned about the vulnerability of children in this current emergency. Decreased access to clean water and a poor diet heightens the risk of malnutrition and diarrheal diseases among children and impacts on their rights to education and protection with the full impact of these intersecting factors expected to manifest only later. Hence the need for a front-facing preventive strategy to avert excess deaths in the months to come.
The funding will help mitigate child morbidity and mortality, prevent malnutrition and provide treatment, enhance water access, ensure continuous learning for children, and protect children against abuse and exploitation. It will also help strengthen the resilience of household to deal with the crisis
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The UNICEF appeal is part of the UN-interagency appeal recently launched to support the Government’s response to the emergency caused by El Nino.
Zimbabwe is experiencing an El Nino emergency impacting severely children under five years, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescents.
The country is also faced with public health emergencies related to cholera and polio and the El Nino’s induced drought is creating numerous health issues affecting children, including disease outbreaks, infectious and respiratory illnesses, and increased levels of malnutrition.
Water scarcity is expected to contribute to the spread of diarrheal and other water-scarce diseases among children exacerbated by reduced immunity in children because of malnutrition plus the risk of school dropouts and violence, and abuse and exploitation against children.
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UNICEF Launches Urgent Appeal For US$84.9 Million To Address Zimbabwe’s El Nino Emergency

The Government of Japan has donated US$774 000 to Zimbabwe through the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to assist the country’s fight against a cholera outbreak.
The fund will specifically target the most vulnerable communities in Manicaland Province, which is the hardest-hit province in the country.
According to the Ministry of Health’s cholera statistics, as of 01 February 2024, Manicaland had 1 102 confirmed cholera cases, with Harare, which has the second-highest number of cases, having recorded 663 confirmed cases.
UNICEF Zimbabwe Representative, Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, expressed gratitude to Japan for the funding. Said Oyewale:
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We are extremely grateful to the Government of Japan for this support. It exemplifies their commitment to the people of Zimbabwe, addressing the urgent needs of affected communities and building resilience against public health emergencies.
The grant will provide a comprehensive range of life-saving support, including access to safe water, critical hygiene materials, healthcare, nutrition, child protection, and other essential social services.
It arrives at a crucial time in the cholera response, as Zimbabwe strives to allocate resources to urgently address and interrupt the cycle of cholera transmission.
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According to the Ministry of Health, as of 01 February 2024, Zimbabwe had 22 105 suspected Cholera cases, 2 388 confirmed cases, 21 378 recoveries, 71 confirmed deaths and 421 suspected deaths.
As of 31 January 2024, a total of 103 735 people had received the Oral Cholera Vaccine.
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Japan Donates US$774 000 Towards Zimbabwe's Cholera Response In Manicaland

About five hundred thousand (500 000) Zimbabwean children of school-going age are staying at home, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said.
In a statement to commemorate the International Day of Education, UNICEF country representative Tajudeen Oyewale said there is a need for collaborative efforts to find solutions to the challenges that are keeping children out of class. Said Oyewale:
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Only six children out of 10 aged three to five are enrolled in pre-primary education. An estimated half a million children of primary and lower secondary school age are out of school.
This data reminds us to continue to work together under the leadership of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to address the challenges that keep children out of school.
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Zimbabwe Teachers Association secretary-general Goodwill Taderera told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200022338/500k-children-out-of-school-un">NewsDay</a> that there is a shortage of schools in the country and the Government is failing to release BEAM funds on time. He said:
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We are facing a lot of challenges as we speak and we don’t have adequate schools while the government would like to cater for the highly marginalised, particularly through the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) fund, it has not been able to pay BEAM for quite some time throughout 2023 and up to now.
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Taderera also said teachers are not motivated enough to discharge their duties effectively. He said:
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As we speak, teachers are crying foul because they’re getting something that doesn’t cover their day-to-day living needs.
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The UN General Assembly proclaimed 24 January as the International Day of Education to celebrate the role of education in peace and development.
This year’s commemorations were held under the theme “Learning for Lasting Peace”.
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500K Zimbabwean Children Out Of School - UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has commended Zimbabwe for raising the age of sexual consent from 16 to 18 years of age.
President Mnangagwa used his powers under the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act to gazette as the Statutory Instrument 2 of 2024 the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Criminal Laws (Protection of Children and Young Persons)) Regulations, 2024.
Under the regulations, even asking a person under 18 to take part in sexual or indecent acts is an offence.
The penalties are set at level 12 fines or a maximum of 10 years in jail.
In a recent statement, UNICEF Zimbabwe’s head of communication Yves Willemot, said the legislation raising the age of consent will cut the prevalence of cases of child sexual abuse. Reads the statement:
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UNICEF notes the passage of the legislation raising the age of consent for sexual relations to 18 years, which will contribute to a reduction of sexual abuse of children and adolescents, which continues to be a concern in Zimbabwe.
Available data suggest that in Zimbabwe, over a third of girls experience sexual violence before the age of 18 years. For most of these girls, the perpetrators are intimate partners.
Sexual violence on children has a significant impact on girls and boys who experience it. The effect is both physical as well as psychological.
As Zimbabwe implements the new legislation, UNICEF calls on the Government also to continue to invest in the prevention of sexual abuse of children and support to victims.
Based on the lessons from existing initiatives by the Government and partners, prevention and support programmes must be continued and scaled up.
Everybody in Zimbabwe must understand that sexual abuse of children is not acceptable, and they need to act accordingly and speak up.
Importantly, UNICEF also calls on all stakeholders to continue guaranteeing access to friendly services to promote health, well-being, and protection for adolescents and young people.
Children deserve to grow up in a safe environment. It is our shared responsibility to break the silence, to help prevent sexual abuse of children, and by extension all forms of violence against children, and to ensure children that are victims of violence, abuse and exploitation get the attention, assistance and support they need.
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UNICEF Commends Zimbabwe For Raising Age Of Sexual Consent To 18 Years

A local representative of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide, has denied media reports alleging that Zimbabwe has suspended the organisation from participating in COVID-19 programs.
Watch the video below (Credit ZBCtv):
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<video class="wp-video-shortcode" controls="controls" height="360" id="video-197752-1" preload="metadata" width="640"><source src="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/UNICEF.mp4?_=1" type="video/mp4"/><a href="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/UNICEF.mp4">https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/UNICEF.mp4</a></video></div>

WATCH: UNICEF Official Speaks On Relations With Zimbabwe Govt.

Statement by the Ministry of Health and Child Care refuting claims that the Government has suspended WHO and UNICEF from participating in COVID-19 programs.
<blockquote>Harare, 26 February 2021. The Ministry of Health and Child Care notes with concerns an article published by the Zimbabwe Independent on 26 February 2021 alleging that the Government, through the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Air commodore Dr Jasper Chimedza, has suspended the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) from participating in COVID-19 programs.
The Ministry would like to herein dismiss the claim as malicious and intended to cause unnecessary alarm and despondency.
In addition, the Ministry wishes to put it on record that no communication suspending either or both WHO and UNICEF, nor any other partners from participating in the national effort to curb the spread of the COVID-19 was ever made.
The Ministry values all partners’ support and will continue to work with them in all public health-related matters.
Lastly, the Ministry calls upon members of the media to practise responsible journalism and desist from publishing unverified reports and falsehoods.</blockquote>

Govt Responds To Reports On WHO, UNICEF Suspension From COVID-19 Programs

The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has appealed for US$70.9 million to address the deepening Zimbabwean humanitarian crisis which is reportedly being worsened by the combined effects of drought, economic recession and the coronavirus pandemic.
This comes as statistics suggest that over half of the country’s total population is facing starvation following a poor farming season last year and the situation is expected to extend to next year. In a recent report, Unicef said:
<blockquote>Unicef is appealing for US$70,9 million to meet the increased humanitarian needs in the country in 2020 as a result of the multiple hazards of drought, residual impacts of Cyclone Idai, diarrheal disease outbreaks, and an economic crisis compounded by the current Covid-19 outbreak.
<div>Without a well-resourced response, the Covid-19 epidemic is projected to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities among children, with a lasting negative impact on children’s education and learning outcomes.</div>
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<div>The combined impact of drought and economic deterioration has thus worsened the dire situation of vulnerable children, placing them at a heightened risk of increased protection violations and negative coping strategies.</div>
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<div>This comes after the Food and Agriculture Organisation (Fao) and World Food Programme (WFP)’s July analysis 
included Zimbabwe among 27 countries in the world facing COVID-19-induced famine.
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<div>More: <a href="https://dailynews.co.zw/us71-million-appeal-for-zim-humanitarian-needs/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daily News</a></div>
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United Nations Appeals For US$71M To Address Zimbabwe's Humanitarian Crisis

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is reportedly appealing for $70.9 Million to help the growing humanitarian situation arising in beleaguered Zimbabwe, Newsday reports.
This was contained in the latest UNICEF situation report that claims the humanitarian crisis arising in Zimbabwe was a threat to Zimbabwe’s vulnerable children.
<blockquote>Unicef is appealing for US$70,9 million to meet the increased humanitarian needs in the country in 2020 as a result of the multiple hazards of drought, residual impacts of Cyclone Idai, diarrheal disease outbreaks, and economic crisis compounded by the current COVID-19 outbreak
Without a well-resourced response, the COVID-19 epidemic is projected to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities among children, with lasting negative impact on children’s education and learning outcomes.
The combined impact of drought and economic deterioration has thus worsened the dire situation of vulnerable children, placing them at a heightened risk of increased protection violations and negative coping strategies.</blockquote>
Another situation Report on Zimbabwe that was published earlier by some agencies including the <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2020/04/27/zimbabwe-remains-in-the-grip-of-severe-food-insecurity-4-3-million-rural-zimbabweans-in-need-of-urgent-food-aid-un/">WFP said over 4 Million people in Zimbabweans were food insecure</a> as the economic crisis becomes dire in Zimbabwe.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/">Newsday </a>

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