UNICEF and China forge first-ever partnership in Afghanistan, delivering vital supplies to prevent disease outbreaks in drought-stricken communities

This article was first published on the UNICEF Afghanistan website.

KABUL, 28 November 2024 – For the first time in Afghanistan, UNICEF and the People’s Republic of China are partnering to support urgent needs for children and their families. The support will focus on providing hygiene and sanitation in communities affected by diarrhoea and cholera following natural disasters.

With US$1.5 million in funding support, UNICEF will deliver water purification tablets and family hygiene kits to more than 28,500 households - around 289,000 people. The kits contain 14 essential items for maintaining personal hygiene, such as soap, shampoo, nail clippers, reusable sanitary pads, multipurpose cloths, towels, dental hygiene supplies, and water storage containers.

Afghanistan is among the top 10 most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, and more than two decades of drought have depleted its underground water resources. In Kabul, UNICEF has observed a water table decline of 6 metres per year.

According to UNICEF data, 12 million people in Afghanistan do not have access to basic drinking water. Coupled with inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene practices, this results in outbreaks of acute watery diarrhoea, and it increases the risk of severe acute malnutrition and stunting, particularly among children under the age of five. Since January 2024, more than 152,000 cases of acute watery diarrhoea with dehydration – a precursor to cholera – have been reported in Afghanistan, including 73 associated deaths. Of these, 56 per cent were children under five years old.

“Proper hygiene is critical to protect children and families from disease outbreaks. We are pleased to partner with UNICEF to address these pressing needs,” said His Excellency Zhao Xing, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Afghanistan. “Through this initial partnership, we aim to bring immediate relief to communities facing extreme hardship. This marks a new beginning in our shared commitment to the Afghan people, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration to create a healthier future.”

“The effects of climate change are only growing stronger in Afghanistan, and UNICEF expects this will require timely humanitarian response. But this can only be possible with strengthened preparedness measures, such as pre-positioning of emergency response supplies,” said Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan. “This partnership with the People's Republic of China is a significant step in strengthening our preparedness and response capabilities in WASH. We hope it will be the beginning of a long-lasting collaboration, as we work together to meet the growing needs of Afghan children and women.”

This partnership will build on UNICEF’s ongoing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme in Afghanistan, which in 2024 has provided over 570,000 million people with safe drinking water. The programme has also reached around 1 million people with hygiene promotion initiatives and improved WASH facilities in 178 schools.