image file.
WASHINGTON, 17th November (RHC) – The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, on Thursday launched a climate finance initiative to address the growing impact of the climate crisis and protect children.
The proposal, titled Today and Tomorrow, combines the funding of programs to improve climate resilience and disaster risk prevention and preparedness for these phenomena, in particular the protection of minors, through a platform of resources made available by the insurance market.
It is currently focusing on eight countries in different regions (Bangladesh, Comoros, Haiti, Fiji, Madagascar, Mozambique, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) that are prone to cyclones and is trying to protect about 15 million children, youth and women over an initial period of time three years to support.
According to UNICEF Alliances executive director Karin Hulshof, she reminded that the world is aware that more and more climate catastrophes are brewing, but does not know when or where they will occur.
He asserted that children and young people are a very vulnerable demographic and among those most affected by extreme weather events, according to UNICEF’s Child Climate Risk Index, which estimates that 400 million children are currently exposed to hurricanes.
The project calls for $30 million, for which UNICEF is inviting donors and public and private stakeholders to help fill the growing financial deficit of humanitarian assistance programs to protect children and youth in the face of climate-related disasters, the damage of which perpetuates and deepens intergenerational inequality and poverty.
The Today and Tomorrow initiative is the first pre-established climate disaster risk financing mechanism specifically targeting under-child protection, with future-guaranteed support from the German and UK governments.
UNICEF found that hurricanes and related disasters such as floods and landslides are the fastest growing weather-related events and a leading cause of loss and damage worldwide. (font: Latin Press).