THE CHILDREN of the Sahel need your help NOW

THE CHILDREN of the Sahel need your help NOW

The impacts of climate change, conflict and political insecurity are multiplying existing levels of extreme poverty and a lack of sustainable development opportunities. Food insecurity is affecting millions of families across the Sahel. Conflict in Ukraine has contributed to the spiraling of food and fertilizer prices, heavily impacting communities already facing multiple deprivations and poverty.

UNICEF’s Call to action covers the central Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger) as well as the neighboring coastal countries (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea and Togo).

Hunger and malnutrition: The Sahel region is often hit by droughts and food crises, resulting in a large number of children in a state of severe malnutrition. This affects their growth and overall health.

Lack of educational opportunities: Due to poverty and poor infrastructure, many children are unable to receive basic education. This limits their future development opportunities and increases the possibility of intergenerational poverty.

Conflict and instability: Some countries in the Sahel region have been in a state of conflict and political instability for a long time, resulting in a large number of children being displaced and living in dangerous and unsafe environments.

Poor medical conditions: Inadequate medical facilities and poor sanitation put children at a higher risk of illness and death. Many preventable and treatable diseases become deadly threats here.

Economic poverty: The overall poor economic situation and meager family income make it difficult for children to meet their basic living needs. They are often forced to engage in labor work and cannot enjoy a normal childhood.

Taking all the above factors into consideration, children in the Sahel region urgently need assistance from the international community to improve their living conditions, provide basic education and medical services, and help them get out of the vicious cycle of poverty. Through our joint efforts, we can bring hope and change to these children.

How will your support make a difference?​

• Increase children’s access to education enabling continued learning in child friendly spaces.​

• Support women and children’s needs to access sufficient clean water for drinking and domestic use.​

• Contribute to the delivery of life saving supplies in hard-to-reach areas including vaccinations, soap and school equipment.​