"These children are scared, hungry
and cold. This is not their war. They are dependent on us for their survival.
The vital need for food and winter support
in the form of warm clothing will became more urgent with the onslaught
of winter - temperatures could plummet to minus 25 degrees C very soon."
(Wube Woldemariam, Children's Aid Direct's Regional Programme Manager for Asia.)
International aid agency Children's Aid Direct is highlighting the suffering of children and their carers in the drought-ridden and troubled country of Afghanistan, in a report on its recent 10-day assessment visit to the country.
The report, by Wube Woldemariam, the charity's Regional Programme Manager for Asia, recommends that the charity undertakes two programmes in Afghanistan. The projects would provide supplementary feeding and winter clothing to ease the suffering of children and their carers who have had to move away from their homes in search of food or safety.
More than 150,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in the north-eastern provinces of Badakshan and Takhar are living either in camps or with host families and are in urgent need of supplementary food, warm clothing and basic medical supplies. Some fled their homes in search of food because the third year of drought in a row meant crop failure. Others left as a result of the current conflict.
Children's Aid Direct's decision to apply for grant-funding to a number of authorities in order to set up the much-needed programmes in north-eastern Afghanistan come as the Taliban's grip on the country is easing in many provinces.
Mr Woldemariam said: "Almost 12 in every 100 children in these two provinces are believed to be malnourished and almost 22 in every 100 mothers. Hospital records show that the high rate of malnutrition amongst child admissions is complicated by other conditions such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria.
"These children are scared, hungry and cold. This is not their war. They are dependent on us for their survival.
"The vital need for food and winter support in the form of warm clothing will became more urgent with the onslaught of winter - temperatures could plummet to minus 25 degrees C very soon. These children and their carers face even more hardship. Many are living in makeshift tents with little food and few clothes. The situation will only deteriorate further unless help is provided."
The aid agency is now putting together plans to build on its strong operational base in neighbouring Tajikistan, from where most supplies will be delivered. Its staff there are used to working in challenging conditions.
Applications for funding have already been submitted to a number of grant authorities and the public is also being asked to help by donating via the Immediate Action Line - on 08701 20 30 40.
It costs about =A320 for six-month's supplementary food for a malnourished child; =A365 for a primary healthcare kit including basic medical essentials such as oral rehydration salts, antibiotics and vitamin tablets for a number of families; and =A3115 for winter clothing of jacket, trousers, gloves, socks and boots for five children.
Ultimately, it costs as little as =A320 to make a difference.
Notes to Editor
About Children's Aid Direct: Children's Aid Direct works all over the world responding to emergency situations and helping to rebuild the lives of children and communities suffering from conflict, poverty and disaster. Children's Aid Direct is now in its 12th year. It currently works in Kosovo, Albania, FYRoMacedonia, Azerbaijan, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, Tajikistan and The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea.).
A copy of Children's Aid Direct's assessment visit to Afghanistan is available from the Communications Department. Photographs are also available. For an interview with Wube Woldemariam, Children's Aid Direct's Regional Programme Manager for Asia, please call the Communications Department.
To use the video of Afghanistan, made at the time of Wube's visit, please call the Communications Department.
For more editorial information please contact: Susan Tolman, Communications Manager, TEL: 0118 958 4000, MOBILE: 0771 504 5669, EMAIL: stolman@cad.tele2.co.uk
Anyone who wants to make a donation to the work of Children's Aid Direct should call the Immediate Action Line on: 08701 20 30 40 or visit our secure on-line donations page.
