African Children Neglected In Climate Financing Despite Being At High Risk – UNICEF

September 1, 2023
OUT OF SCHOOL
OUT OF SCHOOL


The United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in a new report it released on Friday, accused world leaders of neglecting African children when it comes to climate change funding.

According to the report which the UN agency released as leaders prepare to meet for the African Climate Summit holding next week in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, children in 98 Percent of African countries, suffer greatly from impacts of climate change but are critically starved of finances needed to help them adapt, survive and respond to the crisis. The report indicated that a mere 2.4% of the world’s annual climate funding is earmarked for children, with an average allocation of a meager $71 million per year.

READ ALSO: UNICEF Funds Pioneering Tech For Children, Frontier Technologies

“It is clear that the youngest members of African society are bearing the brunt of the harsh effects of climate change,” Lieke van de Wiel, Deputy Director, UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa region, said.

She added that the children “are woefully neglected by the key climate financing flows required to help them adapt, survive and respond to the climate crisis.”

UNICEF’s report, titled “Time to Act: African Children in the Climate Change Spotlight,” evaluates countries by considering children’s exposure to climate and environmental shocks like cyclones and heatwaves. It also analyzes their vulnerability to these shocks, taking into account their access to vital services.

The report highlighted that among the 49 African countries examined, 48 were classified as being at either high or extremely high risk. The most vulnerable children were identified in Nigeria, The Central African Republic, Somalia, Chad, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.

The report explained that while most countries have made significant progress in delivering crucial services, difficulties continue to heighten the vulnerability of children. These challenges include unavailability of quality healthcare and nutrition services, inadequate access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, limited opportunities for quality education, and high levels of poverty.

Appealing for more climate funding and support for children in Africa, the UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa region Deputy Director said: “We need to see a stronger focusing of funding towards this group, so they are equipped to face a lifetime of climate-induced disruptions.”

Join our WhatsApp Channel
John Adoyi, PBA Journalism Mentee
+ posts

Featured Stories

Latest from News

Senate to Fast-Track Constitutional Amendment for State Police

Senate has pledged to complete the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to allow the creation of state police before the end of 2026. Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu said recently that the upper chamber would resume work on the constitutional review once plenary

CIA-Guided US-Israeli Strikes Killed Khamenei — Report

CIA intelligence reportedly helped guide the US and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the New York Times reported Sunday. The strikes on Tehran, confirmed by Iranian state media, came after the United States and Israel vowed to

Gumi Praises Iran’s Supreme Leader’s Death as ‘Jihad’

Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi on Sunday lauded the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling him “a lucky soul” who “died in jihad” against those he described as killers of innocent civilians. In a Facebook post, the Kaduna-based
Dangote Cement

Dangote Cement Records 20% Increase in 2025 Revenue

Dangote Cement Plc reported a 20.3 percent rise in revenue to 4.31 trillion naira ($2.7 billion) for the year ending Dec. 31, 2025, driven by higher prices in key markets, the company said in a filing to the Nigerian Exchange Limited. The

Iran Leadership “Safe” After Strikes – Foreign Minister

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the country’s top leadership remains intact following large-scale strikes by the United States and Israel. Speaking to US media, he said Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was alive “as far as I know” and that all senior
Nigerian Stock Exchange 1 660x400 1
Previous Story

Over N535.37bn Gained By Shareholders In Dangote Sugar, Tantalizer, Others

Next Story

10 Things to Know about Gabon’s Former President

Don't Miss

LATEST: 9 List Of World’s Richest People Aside From Elon Musk

LATEST: 9 List Of World’s Richest People Aside From Elon Musk

Ever wondered how the world richest persons are gotten? Truly,

‘O-Care Syringe Factory A Great Milestone In Boosting In-country Manufacturing Of Medical Products’

At a time when Nigeria is battling foreign exchange crisis