Japan renews its support to children in Yemen
Sana’a, Yemen, 19 February 2019 – As over 11 million children, nearly every child in Yemen, require urgent assistance, the Government of Japan has generously renewed its contribution to UNICEF to expand and scale up its humanitarian response and reach more children.
Through a multi-sectoral approach, the 1,5 million USD contribution of the Government of Japan will enable UNICEF to continue providing emergency humanitarian assistance to the children of Yemen and their caregivers. Focus will be given on access to water, sanitation, health care and child protection services, strengthening at the same time the resilience of conflict-affected communities in 8 governorates across the country.
The intention of the project is to ensure that basic health, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs of the most vulnerable children and families are fulfilled, to mitigate the impact of epidemic outbreaks, such as cholera. This will be complemented by child protection activities.
More specifically:
- 60,500 conflict-affected and displaced people will be reached with WASH interventions, to ensure that children and their families can have improved access to sustainable safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services;
- 50,000 pregnant and lactating women will receive supplementation and quality counselling on optimal practices of breastfeeding and complementary feeding;
- 5,000 women and 500 newborns will benefit from the maternal and newborn health support to the governorate hospital in Amran;
- 160 medical doctors and midwives will be trained to strengthen existing health care networks and facilitate access to health services for newborns, children and pregnant and lactating mothers;
- 650 children (50% girls) will receive life-skills training and socio-economic empowerment activities to prevent and respond to child marriage and recruitment;
- Capacities of 100 social workers and representatives from local authorities will be reinforced to ensure the most vulnerable children can benefit from a child-friendly justice system and a gender responsive social welfare system.
“After four years of conflict, children are carrying the scars of the war and the needs are increasing. UNICEF is extremely grateful to Japan and other donors for their generosity to enable UNICEF to respond to these needs and bring an end to children’s suffering in Yemen,” said Sara Beysolow Nyanti, UNICEF Representative in Yemen.
Despite the increase in violence, UNICEF continues to work around the clock with humanitarian partners to provide lifesaving assistance to the children and their families in all 22 governorates in Yemen, with a continuum of services in health, education, child protection, water, sanitation and hygiene. In 2018, thanks to the support of Japan and other donors, UNICEF treated over 345,000 severely malnourished children, vaccinated more than 4 million children against polio and delivered safe drinking water to over 5 million people.
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org.