Humanitarian Action for Children 2011 - Unicef

EritreaChildren and women in crisisThe children and women in Eritrea remain vulnerable to pervasive undernutrition that limitsyoung children’s physical growth and development and to landmines that demarcate an oftenhidden border between safety and danger. High consumer prices, drought and floods contributeto continuing levels of food insecurity, and a perennial political impasse with neighbouringEthiopia hinders efforts to reduce poverty, lessen disaster risk and develop human capacities.Finding a way to work amid government restrictions to deliver effective assistance is crucial toimproving the immediate well-being of the country’s most vulnerable people.Humanitarianfunding at work:Highlights from 2010In 2010, UNICEF estimatedthat US$24.8 million wasneeded to fund its work inEritrea. As of October 2010,only 27 per cent of thisrequest had been received.Despite the shortfall, fundingfrom donors enabled UNICEFand its partners to meetimmediate humanitarianneeds. Nearly 6,000 childrenwith severe acute malnutritionreceived life-savingtreatment, and more than37,000 people gained accessto safe drinking water andsanitation. Landmine riskeducation reached close to200,000 people, including150,000 children.Meeting urgent needs and building resilience in 2011In 2011, UNICEF will continue to work with the Government of Eritrea, UN agencies and nongovernmentalpartners to respond to the needs of about 1.5 million people, primarily children,mired in poverty, plagued by food insecurity and vulnerable to natural hazards. UNICEF’sfocus will be ensuring access to health and nutrition care, safe drinking water, and appropriatesanitation and hygiene, and on improving mine-risk education and child protection.• About 530,000 pregnant and lactating women and children under age 5 will benefitfrom micronutrient supplementation, vitamin A supplementation and therapeutic feedingprogrammes.• One million such children will have access to better health services that offer more trainedstaff, improved equipment and more efficient drug procurement.• A safe water source is one of the gateways to health. More than 20,000 people throughout allsix of the country’s regions will have access to drinkable water and better sanitation throughnew or rehabilitated boreholes.• Around 15,000 nomadic and internally displaced children will be able to count on the stabilityof an education when they attend child-friendly learning spaces.• UNICEF will ensure that vulnerable children in communities affected by armed conflictbenefit from child-focused landmine risk education and child protection. This work includesproviding first aid kits and training community medical volunteers.Funding requirements for 2011To make significant strides in stabilizing the welfare of women and children in Eritrea,particularly their nutritional status, their access to safe water, and education and protection,UNICEF is requesting US$14,075,000 to carry out its planned activities. Any delay in fullyfunding programmes will further limit the health and the human potential of Eritrea’s vulnerablepopulation.More information on achievement of 2010 and the humanitarian action planned forEritrea in 2011 can be found at www.unicef.org/hac2011.UNICEF EMERGENCY NEEDS FOR 2011 (in US dollars)Total $14,075,0001,500,000 Health2,000,000Child protection8,500,000 Nutrition1,075,000WASH1,000,000EducationEritreawww.unicef.org/hac2011 | 2011 UNICEF Humanitarian Action FOR CHILDREN 37