On Sept 20, 2022, a Somali woman and children carry water at a camp for displaced people on the outskirts of Dollow, Somalia. JEROME DELAY AP NAIROBI - The UN Children's FundUN Children's Fund UNICEF launched a $1 billion emergency funding appeal to reach millions of children in the Horn of Africa region in 2023.
UNICEF said it changed its emergency life-saving appeal from $879 million in September to $1 billion to cover 2023 in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.
It said that children in the Horn of Africa region are experiencing the most severe drought in recent history across the three countries, as well as the conflict in northern Ethiopia.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said that climate adaptation and resilience building are an ever-present threat to children, which is why we prioritize climate adaptation and resilience building as part of our humanitarian response. ALSO READ: UNICEF seeks funds for drought-affected children in Ethiopia.
She said this will help us reach children living through today's crisis and help them and their communities prepare for those yet to come.
UNICEF called for partners to support the life-saving humanitarian response for children, prioritize climate-adaptive anticipatory action and preparedness efforts, adopting no-regrets approaches to preparedness and response, and ensuring equitable and principled humanitarian assistance.
UNICEF will need more than $1.6 billion in 2023 to deliver life-saving aid to more than 39.8 million people, including at least 27 million children, in eastern and southern Africa.
The UN children's agency said it would need $217 million in emergency funding in South Sudan and $43 million in Uganda to help children who are afflicted by drought, floods, and other emergencies and need more humanitarian support.