The Government of Japan granted UNICEF US$ 6.2m to support humanitarian efforts in Chad
N’Djamena (CHAD), 7th April 2014 – The Government of Japan granted UNICEF a significant new funding to support humanitarian efforts in Chad. The funding comes at the time the Chadian Government and partners, among which UNICEF, are responding to urgent humanitarian needs of over 90,000 Chadian returnees and CAR refugees who fled violence in CAR to take refuge in southern and eastern Chad.
In addition to chronic challenges with structural causes, including malnutrition, Chad is currently facing simultaneous acute emergencies that are stretching response capacities. Children in Chad face risks of recurrent disease epidemics and outbreaks, cyclical floods, drought and displacement. The situation is exacerbated by political instability in neighboring countries, which has resulted in 450,000 refugees, 90,000 internally displaced persons and 270,000 returnees in Chad, all of whom need access to protection, education, nutrition, health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services.
“Through this new assistance, UNICEF will be able to accelerate and scale up its humanitarian response in the areas of nutrition, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as education and child protection," said Bruno Maes, UNICEF Representative in Chad. “UNICEF will implement an integrated interventions aimed at responding quickly to emergency needs of children at risk, while focusing on building capacities and reducing risks.”
In the area of nutrition, this contribution will allow UNICEF to treat more than 75,000 children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and provide Micronutrient supplementation to 500,000 children and 10,000 pregnant women in the Sahel Belt and southern Chad. WASH activities will be integrated to those interventions. UNICEF will also provide curative care for 150,000 children and 60,000 women, and antenatal care services including Prevention of Mother to Child HIV/AIDS Transmission (PMTCT) to 10,000 pregnant women across the 11 regions of the Sahel belt of Chad.
Moreover, this funding will contribute to strengthening UNICEF immunization programs in prevention to recurrent disease epidemics and outbreaks. UNICEF will target 1.5 million children in 30 health districts through the Reach Every District Initiative by providing vaccine and cold chain equipment. 2.3 million children under five years of age who are exposed to the risk of contracting Poliomyelitis will receive the polio vaccine. UNICEF will strengthen hygiene promotion and cholera prevention interventions in 30 Cholera-prone health districts targeting 2 million people.
In the area of education and child protection, more than 60,000 school aged children affected by displacement and nutrition crisis will benefited from primary education services. UNICEF will provide school supply to 20,000 refugee and returnee children and more than 15,000 children affected by malnutrition and displacement will receive psychosocial support.
About Japan’s support to UNICEF in Chad
In 2012, thanks to the financial support provided by the Government of Japan, UNICEF has been able to respond to nutritional emergencies and to cope with the emergence of the poliovirus. The Government of Japan granted UNICEF Chad US$ 4.2m to contribute to the reduction of infant mortality and morbidity caused by severe acute malnutrition in the Sahel belt as well as to strengthen the planned response to the emergence of polio in Chad. In 2013, the Government of Japan has provided an additional funding to UNICEF of US$ 3m to intensify efforts to eradicate polio in Chad and step up the fight against malaria. In the area of polio eradication, the aid packages were used to strengthen communication and social mobilization efforts and to improve the cold chain and logistics system. Concerning malaria prevention, the focus was the acquisition and distribution of insecticide treated mosquito bed nets and preventive medication and on communication and social mobilization activities.
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 visit: http://www.unicef.org Note for editors
Chad continues to face high rates of child malnutrition. For 2014, an estimated of 2.3 million people will experience food insecurity, including 1.2 million people at risk of extreme food insecurity. This situation may further compromise the nutritional status of vulnerable children. It is also estimated that in 2014, more than 500,000 children under 5 will be affected by acute malnutrition in the Sahel belt of Chad.
In addition, the country is experiencing numerous cyclic shocks (drought, floods) and recurrent epidemics such as polio, cholera, measles and meningitis, putting a heavy burden on a structural weak health system. The situation is exacerbated by political instability in neighbouring countries, which has resulted in 450,000 refugees, 90,000 internally displaced persons and 270,000 returnees in Chad, all of whom need access to protection, education, nutrition, health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. The continued violence in CAR has led to additional displacements of 90,000 people into Chad. Based on the country’s inter-agency Humanitarian Needs Overview and 2014 Strategic Response Plan, UNICEF is requesting US$62,500,000 to meet the humanitarian needs of children in Chad in 2014.
For more information:
Lalaina Fatratra Andriamasinoro, Chief of Communication, +235 66 36 00 42, lfandriamasinoro@unicef.org, UNICEF Chad Country Office
Ngata Salomon, Communication Officer, + 235 66 53 72 99, ysngata@unicef.org, UNICEF Chad Country Office
