The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned on Monday about the effects of the climate crisis on children and vulnerable communities in Africa.
UNICEF stated that about 45 million children are experiencing multiple and often simultaneous crises intensified by climate change, including cholera outbreaks, malnutrition, drought, and floods.
According to Eva Kadilli, UNICEF's Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, "the climate crisis constitutes a real threat to the children and communities of the region."
"The very elements children need to survive and thrive, including clean drinking water, food, shelter, learning, and safety, are affected by climate shocks," Kadilli noted.
Furthermore, school closures disrupt progress in education, as communities that rely on agriculture face crop losses, leading to child malnutrition or forcing them to work to contribute to income generation.
According to UNICEF, the El Nino phenomenon of 2023-2024, one of the strongest ever recorded, has exacerbated regional climate patterns, causing dry conditions and irregular rainfall, affecting agricultural production and exacerbating epidemics.
