New Delhi, December 6, 2024 – Almost 47 million children across South Asia will require humanitarian assistance in 2025 due to climate-induced disasters, health crises, and economic shocks, according to a new funding appeal by UNICEF.

Launched yesterday, the organization is seeking $1.6 billion to provide lifesaving aid to 28 million people, including 16 million children, in countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and others across the region.

“Millions of children in South Asia are severely impacted by increasingly severe, climate-related disasters, including floods, landslides, cyclones, and droughts, particularly during the monsoon season,” said Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia. “The challenges for children are exacerbated by public health emergencies, economic crises, and political instability. As a result, children’s lives are at risk with severe disruptions to their health, nutrition, education, as well as other basic needs.”

Key Challenges Across the Region

• Afghanistan: With 12.4 million children in dire need, Afghanistan faces the region’s most pressing crisis, driven by economic hardship, climate shocks, and restrictions on women. UNICEF has allocated $1.2 billion of its appeal to address these challenges, making it one of the agency’s largest global funding requests.
• Bangladesh: Hosting over 1 million Rohingya refugees in overcrowded camps, Bangladesh struggles with the dual burden of the refugee crisis and climate-related disasters. Over 3.2 million children are exposed to the impacts of floods and cyclones.
• Pakistan: Ranking fifth globally for climate risk, Pakistan’s 24.7 million vulnerable children face extreme weather events like floods and heatwaves, compounded by malnutrition, political instability, and gender inequalities.

Broader Regional Risks

Nepal and Bhutan remain at high risk of earthquakes due to their location on the Himalayan belt, while Sri Lanka faces intermittent floods and droughts that threaten its economic recovery. Maldives grapples with rising sea levels and climate change.

UNICEF’s 2025 Goals

UNICEF’s appeal outlines a comprehensive humanitarian response:

• Afghanistan: Deliver life-saving aid and essential services to 10 million children.
• Bangladesh: Support 2.1 million people, including 529,623 Rohingya refugees, with water, sanitation, health, nutrition, and education services, alongside mental health and psychosocial support for 1.1 million children and caregivers.
• Pakistan: Assist 3.5 million children, including 1.4 million women and children, through primary healthcare facilities.

The Path Forward

UNICEF emphasizes the importance of working with governments, authorities, and local partners to prepare for recurrent crises across the region. Funds will help meet critical health, nutrition, education, protection, and sanitation needs while ensuring inclusivity, including for children with disabilities.

With extreme climate events and socio-economic instability threatening millions of lives, UNICEF’s appeal underscores the urgency of global support to safeguard South Asia’s most vulnerable children.