Reuters AlertNet Lite - Afghan children at greater risk, despite progress

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Afghan children at greater risk, despite progress

06 Nov 2007 06:28:15 GMT
Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)

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Students in a home-based classroom in Bala Morghab in 2006. At least twenty schools in this area and more home-based classes closed this year due to the increasing insurgency.
World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org

Background

• Afghan turmoil

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Afghan children are more at risk now than any time since 2002, says a UNICEF report released last week. Despite progress in health, nutrition and education, the children of this war-torn country continue to suffer.

Citing the increasing insurgency, attacks on schools and even students, UNICEF says insecurity remains a primary concern for the Afghan people.

According to UN statistics, in 2006 nearly 900 children under age five died every day, mostly from common but preventable childhood diseases such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, malaria and typhoid.

At least 400 schools in the south are closed due to threat of attack. In the north of the country, in Badghis Province, twenty more schools and several home-based classes for girls (once supported by World Vision), remain closed since insurgents began launching attacks on government buildings there, including schools and clinics, more than one year ago.

World Vision continues to support at least 235 schools across Badghis and Ghor Provinces, providing more than 75,000 children and their teachers with school supplies and food rations through a USDA-funded Food for Education programme.

The report states that children are also more vulnerable now due to military strikes inadvertently killing civilians, suicide bombings, and the use of children, although limited, as combatants. If the situation of Afghan children is to improve, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission warns that three critical areas must be addressed: the war, the economy and children's education.

'Children don't learn when they're hungry or sick, that is why World Vision's school support programme is so important in ensuring that each child has the best chance to learn,' says Francois de la Roche, Country Director. 'We see a desire to rebuild and grow in Afghanistan from all age levels, but indeed, most people look at children as the true future of a strong and stable Afghanistan.'

Martin Bell, a former BBC journalist and author of the report, says it "is make or break time" for Afghan children.

World Vision is actively pursuing grant and private funding to respond to the challenges confronting vulnerable persons, especially children.

Infant and maternal mortality also remain major concerns. In 2005, more than 60 women died every day from pregnancy-related causes. Beginning this fall, a successful midwifery training programme is expanding from Herat to Ghor.

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Last updated:Wed Nov 7 02:44:36 2007