Emergency preparedness and disaster risk management
Working with partners and communities in emergencies, UNICEF responds to the needs of affected-children and families by ensuring access to safe drinking water, hygiene promotion, education, basic social services, and a safe protective environment.
Challenges
Both countries have been affected by emergency situations, including civil unrest, migration, epidemies and natural disasters. Flooding and limited potable water in rural locations have a significant impact on the lives of children and their families —from lack of attendance in school, low birth weights, diarrhea and other water-borne diseases.
Access to hygiene products for girls remains a challenge. Cultural and economic practices are the biggest inhibitors to full access. In addition, the Venezuelan migrants and host communities have overstretched the already limited services in bordering regions putting at risk to most vulnerable children and their families. Absorption capacity and coping mechanism are reaching their limits.
Solutions
UNICEF responds to the needs of the most vulnerable affected-populations focusing on water/sanitation and hygiene promotion, nutrition, education and child protection in line with the Core Commitment for Children in Emergencies.
Supporting communities and schools, UNICEF also engages in preparedness, risk management and contingency planning at community level, and with the national risk management platform to build capacity and resilience in absorbing shocks. Prepositioning supplies in country with limited transportation network and infrastructure have been cost-efficient to immediately respond to needs when occurred.
