The devastating drought crisis in Zambia is taking a heartbreaking toll on children, forcing them to abandon their education due to hunger.
With 5.83 million individuals affected, children are bearing the brunt of this crisis, and their vulnerability is escalating.
According to the Joining Forces for Children Alliance, comprising six leading child-focused agencies, the drought has led to widespread hunger, causing many children, especially those in secondary schools, to drop out.
This crisis has far-reaching consequences, including:
– Increased Dropout Rates: Children are abandoning their education due to hunger and lack of resources.
– Child Labor and Exploitation:
Cases of child labor and exploitation are on the rise, with adolescent girls in transit areas turning to transactional sex to survive.
– Child Marriages:
Desperate families are marrying off their daughters in exchange for money or food, leading to a surge in child marriages.
– Adolescent Pregnancies and Unsafe Abortions: The report also reveals growing rates of adolescent pregnancies and unsafe abortions.
The Joining Forces for Children alliance is sounding the alarm, urging international partners, the Zambian government, and local communities to take immediate action to protect the nation’s children.
Antoinette Ngoma, Country Director of Plan International Zambia, emphasizes that children are suffering the most from climate change, despite being the least responsible for it.
To mitigate these challenges, the alliance is providing critical services, including:
– Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH):
Essential services to ensure children’s health and well-being.
– School-Feeding Programs:
Nutritious meals to support children’s education. – Child Protection Services: Safeguards to prevent exploitation and abuse.
– Relief Food and Non-Food Items:
Emergency support for vulnerable families. However, a significant funding gap remains, hindering efforts to address the urgent needs of children. It’s crucial that we support organizations working to protect and educate children affected by this crisis.
