According to Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, acute respiratory infections among children -a leading cause of child mortality worldwide- have skyrocketed in flood-stricken areas. Plus, the number of cases of children identified as suffering from severe acute malnutrition in flood-affected areas monitored by UNICEF nearly doubled between July and December as compared to 2021.

“Children living in Pakistan´s flood-affected areas have been pushed to the brink,” Fadil said.

“The rains may have ended, but the crisis for children has not. Nearly 10 million girls and boys are still in need of immediate, lifesaving support and are heading into a bitter winter without adequate shelter. Severe acute malnutrition, respiratory and water-borne diseases coupled with the cold are putting millions of young lives at risk.”

UNICEF estimated that 1.5 million children are still in need of lifesaving nutrition interventions.

The 2022 devastating floods are, according to the UN, Pakistan’s worst natural disaster in decades.

One third of the country’s territory was affected, bringing with it poverty and displacement of about eight million people.

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