The Government of Japan supports UNICEF’s nutrition, WASH and protection interventions for children in CAR

The Government of Japan has contributed US$ 1.48 million to UNICEF programmes in CAR

26 February 2024
Un enfant souffrant de malnutrition recevant un traitement à l'hôpital de malnutrition de Bossangoa.
UNICEF CAR/2023/Lemoyne
Un enfant souffrant de malnutrition recevant un traitement à l'hôpital de malnutrition de Bossangoa.

Bangui, Central African Republic, 26 February 2024 – The Government of Japan has contributed US$ 1.48 million to support life-saving nutrition, water, hygiene, sanitation, and protection interventions urgently needed to respond to the acute humanitarian needs of children in the three crisis-affected prefectures of Ouham, Ouham Pende, and Lim Pende in the north-west of the Central African Republic.

This project provides humanitarian assistance to children in CAR suffering from humanitarian crisis such as malnutrition, poor sanitation and violence, and is important to secure the lives of the children who are the future of Central Africa,” said Kiyohiko Ikeda, Charge d’Affaires, a.i., of Embassy of Japan accredited to Central African Republic in Cameroon.

At the Eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8), the Government of Japan emphasized the necessity of building a resilient and sustainable society to achieve human security and the SDGs, and this project is in line with this determination”, he added.

The generous contribution from the Government of Japan is key in supporting the screening of over 35,000 children below the age of 5 years and allow the early detection and timely treatment of over 3,000 severely malnourished children. It will also contribute to increasing the knowledge of close to 40,000 caregivers to actively screen for signs of acute malnutrition and act quickly for the wellbeing of their children.

This partnership also allows UNICEF and its partners to empower communities to better recognize the trauma in violence-affected children and support them in the path to recovery. Furthermore, it supports the empowerment of women and girls to better understand and protect themselves and their peers from further violence.

Japan's contribution is timely and key to support UNICEF's relentless efforts to increase access to water and improve hygiene in health facilities and communities, directly benefitting at least 11,500 people with improved access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and good hygiene practices.

UNICEF Representative in the Central African Republic, Meritxell Relaño Arana, thanked Japan for the renewed trust: “This contribution is timely as we gear up to respond to the acute needs of children in some of the most isolated and hard-to-reach areas in 2024. UNICEF grateful to the Government and people of Japan for this funding that will allow us to offer different forms of assistance to 52,000 children in one year, with the ripple effect of the interventions benefitting some 200,000 children and people living in the same communities”.

The Central African Republic is one of the countries where children experience the worst life conditions, because of poverty, conflict, displacement, climate change and other related crises. These days, 40% of children have chronic malnutrition and 5.4% suffer from acute malnutrition. Only 36% of the population have access to basic water service and 84% of schools do not have access to basic water service.

Media contacts

Salwa Moussa
Chief of Advocacy & Communication
UNICEF Central African Republic
Tel: +236 70 00 97 06

About UNICEF in CAR

UNICEF works hand in hand with the Government of the Central African Republic (CAR) to promote the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we support the more vulnerable and excluded children, particularly to help them have access to health care, nutrition, clean water, child protection services and quality education. We assist them to grow protected against violence and exploitation, so that they may develop their full capacities as active citizens in the midst of their communities.

For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org

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