Unicef launches largest ever single-nation appeal for Afghanistan

Kabul, Dec 7 (IANS) The Unicef on Tuesday launched the largest-ever single-nation appeal for $2 billion to respond to the humanitarian needs in Afghanistan.

"Unicef launched its largest-ever single-country appeal today to urgently respond to the humanitarian needs of over 24 million people in Afghanistan, half of whom are children," the UN agency said in a statement.

The agency added that its appeal will help to avert the imminent collapse of health, nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), education and other vital social services for children and families, reports Xinhua news agency.

Since the August 15 takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban and the formation of the Taliban-led caretaker government on September 7, the country's humanitarian situation has worsened.

The statement said that "the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate in Afghanistan, there are alarming disruptions in health and nutrition services, a disastrous food crisis, drought, outbreaks of measles, acute watery diarrhea, polio and other preventable diseases, as well as the crippling onset of winter".

Alice Akunga, Uniced Afghanistan Representative, was quoted in the statement as saying that the current humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is dire especially for children.

Winter has already set in, without additional funding the agency and its partners will be unable to reach the children and families that are in urgent need, she said.

"As families struggle to put nutritious food on the table and health systems are further strained, millions of Afghan children are at risk of starvation and death. Others struggle to access water and sanitation, are cut off from their schools and are at heightened risk of violence.

As the desperation of families and children increases, Unicef is doing everything possible to save and protect children." Akunga added.

The Unicef estimates that one in two Afghan children under five will be acutely malnourished in 2022 due to the food crisis and poor access to water, sanitation and hygiene services, according to the statement.

"Unicef is strongly urging donors to support Afghanistan's children through its humanitarian appeal," added Akunga.

UN agencies, aid group and a number of non-governmental organisations are racing against the time to deliver life-saving aid and supplies to crisis-hit Afghans ahead of winter.