UNICEF and UN CERF help children with disabilities during emergency response in Cabo Delgado
UNICEF and UN CERF worked together to respond to the urgent needs of the displaced children and families, with a special focus on the essential needs, accessibility, and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Cabo Delgado, Mozambique - Thousands of children and families were forced to flee their homes in Cabo Delgado because of violence. This resulted in many displaced children and people living in accommodation centres and in need of urgent support. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), with the support of the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), worked with local partners and government, to respond to the urgent needs of the displaced children and families, with a special focus on the essential needs, accessibility, and inclusion of children and persons with disabilities.
UNICEF in coordination with the Italian Association – Friends of Raoul Follereau (AIFO), and funds from CERF, carried out several awareness-raising activities on child rights, disability, and inclusion, including community sessions on disability and inclusion targeting child protection community committees, in Metuge, Balma and Montepuez districts.
In coordination with Light for the world and AIFO, 64 children (32 boys and 32 girls), in need of specialized services, were registered, and their needs were addressed through a case management approach, including referral for different services such as health and education. In addition to that, the children received home-based psychosocial support.
Also, UNICEF partners must ensure that 10 percent of the public emergency latrines are accessible, and that water points can also be accessed by persons with disabilities. The specific needs of persons with disabilities were identified and hygiene communication activities were adapted for the different vulnerable groups.
During the distribution of kits, inclusion was always privileged, with 5% of the beneficiary children being children with disabilities.
