UNICEF launches the largest funding appeal, amounting to $9.4 billion

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday launched the largest funding appeal in its history, worth $9.4 billion.

This is to cover its activities for children affected by conflict and the repercussions of the Corona pandemic until the end of 2022.

“This $9.4 billion emergency appeal for funding aims to reach more than 327 million people,” WHO Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a statement.

Including 177 million children affected by humanitarian crises and the Corona pandemic around the world.

It added, “As the Corona pandemic approaches its third year, the plight of these children increases as economies falter and poverty and inequality increase.”

“This largest-ever funding appeal for UNICEF (founded in 1946) comes at a time when escalating conflicts have pushed millions of children and their communities to the brink.”

“Attacks on children in countries experiencing conflict, including attacks on civilian infrastructure essential to children’s survival, continue at an alarming rate,” she stressed.

And it stated that “nearly 24,000 grave violations against children were confirmed last year, an average of 72 violations per day.”

“The value of the appeal will be used to fund basic programs for more than 177 million needy children in 145 countries and regions until the end of 2022,” the UNICEF director said.

It added, “The appeal includes allocating $2 billion for UNICEF’s response in Afghanistan, where 13 million children are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.

Among them, one million children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition at a time when the health system is on the verge of collapse.

An additional amount of $933 million will also be allocated as part of efforts to combat “Corona”.

And this is as the pandemic continues to set back the education, health, nutrition, and well-being of children around the world.

UNICEF also needs $909 million for the Syrian refugee crisis and another $334 million for the crisis inside Syria.

Also, $484 million for the response in Yemen, and more than $356 million to support programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.