South Asia

Last updated: 25 August 2023 One year after unprecedented floods ravaged Pakistan, millions of children still need humanitarian assistance and access to essential services. Many of the hardest-hit districts were among the most vulnerable in the country, where children already suffered from high malnutrition, poor access to water and sanitation,…, What happened?, The 2022 floods submerged one third of the country, affecting 33 million people, half of whom were children. The floods damaged most of the water systems in affected areas, forcing more than 5.4 million people to rely solely on contaminated water from ponds and wells. Unsafe water and poor sanitation are key underlying causes of malnutrition.…, How UNICEF is supporting children in Pakistan, Since August 2022, UNICEF and partners have reached 3.6 million people with primary health-care services; enabled access to safe water for 1.7 million people in areas where water networks were damaged or  destroyed; reached over 545,000 children and caregivers with mental health and psychosocial support; and supported education for over 258,000…

ISLAMABAD, 9 January 2023 – More than four months after a national state of emergency was declared in Pakistan, up to 4 million children are still living near contaminated and stagnant flood waters, risking their survival and wellbeing, UNICEF warned today. Acute respiratory infections among children, a leading cause of child mortality worldwide,…

NEW YORK, 28 December 2022 - "The decision by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to ban women from working in humanitarian non-governmental organizations is a major blow for vulnerable communities, for women, for children, and for the entire country. "Female staff are key to every aspect of the humanitarian response in Afghanistan. They are…

NASIRABAD, Pakistan – Driving across the Bolan Pass, a valley in southwest Pakistan, I’m reminded again of the sheer devastation wrought by recent flooding around much of the country.   As we continue the hours-long journey along what used to be the road to Jhal Magsi, a district of Balochistan, the receding waters reveal more and more evidence of…

Situation reports are the main reporting tool to monitor UNICEF’s humanitarian response. They provide an update on the situation and needs of children in a country or region, as well as information on UNICEF’s response and funding requirements. 

ISLAMABAD, 21 October 2022 — In the aftermath of the devastating floods in Pakistan, health facilities are reporting alarming levels of severe acute malnutrition among children in affected areas, UNICEF warned today. More than 1 in 9 children under five admitted to health facilities in flood-affected areas of Sindh and Balochistan were found to be…

JAFARABAD, Pakistan – From a distance, the scene looks harmless. We’re driving along an elevated road through Jafarabad, a district in Balochistan, in the southwest of Pakistan, that is surrounded by water that stretches as far as the eye can see. But these waters shouldn’t be here, and beneath their stagnant surface lay the remains of homes and…

Afghanistan is home to one of the most crushing humanitarian crises in the world. After decades of conflict, Afghans have been cut off from the global community, left to grapple with economic collapse, climate disasters and human rights violations not of their own making. Every day, millions of children venture into the streets, fields and mines…, UNICEF on the ground, The challenges facing humanitarian organizations in Afghanistan are many. The reasons to persist are more. Millions of families struggle to receive the health care and nutrition their children need. With support from partners, UNICEF is preventing the collapse of the health system and treating children at risk of malnutrition. We’ve paid salaries…, Our impact, UNICEF works day in and day out, in some of the hardest-to-reach areas, to serve more children in Afghanistan than any other organization. But we can’t do it alone. With thanks to our donors and partners, we commit to making a difference together., Learn more about UNICEF in Afghanistan

GENEVA/ISLAMABAD, 7 October 2022 – “Pakistan’s catastrophic floods have already claimed the lives of 615 children. Right now, almost 10 million children are now in need of immediate, lifesaving support. It is a staggering number; indeed the scale of need is daunting. And with a heavy heart, I must state that more children will die in the coming…

KABUL, 30 September 2022 - "UNICEF is appalled by the horrific attack, early this morning, inside the Kaaj Educational Center in the Dasht-e-Barchi district of West Kabul, Afghanistan. This heinous act reportedly claimed the lives of dozens of young people, and severely injured many more, including children. The victims were practising for the…

The scale of the devastation caused by historic monsoon rains in Pakistan is difficult to comprehend. Around 33 million people have been impacted by the ‘super floods’ – the worst flooding in more than a century – which have left at least 3.4 million children in need of life-saving support.   Young children are living in temporary shelters or out…, 1. Delivering safe water and hygiene supplies , The second wave of the disaster is already hitting hard with outbreaks of watery diarrhoea, typhoid and malaria now increasing rapidly as millions of people sleep in temporary shelters or in the open near stagnating water. Many people are forced to drink contaminated water and practice open defecation. The dangers of mosquitoes, snakebites, skin,…, 2. Supporting good nutrition , The floods impacted parts of Pakistan where children already suffered some of the highest rates of chronic and acute malnutrition. In some areas 40 per cent of children already suffered from stunting, caused by chronic undernutrition, before the floods hit. Increases in diarrhoea and decreased access to food following the floods are compounding…, 3. Helping children access learning , Thousands of schools across the country have been damaged or destroyed due to the floods, compounding the disruption to learning many children experienced during COVID-19 pandemic school closures.  Pakistan. Children walk past their damaged school in Balochistan Province, Pakistan. Children walk past their damaged school in Balochistan Province,…, 4. Providing psychosocial support , Any emergency on this scale increases risks for children, undermining their resilience and psychosocial wellbeing and leaving many in shock and experiencing severe distress from having witnessed the devastation, lost their loved ones, their homes, and cherished possessions.  Pakistan. A man uses a satellite dish to move children across a flooded…

Situation reports are the main reporting tool to monitor UNICEF’s humanitarian response. They provide an update on the situation and needs of children in a country or region, as well as information on UNICEF’s response and funding requirements.