KABUL (Pajhwok): Japan has pledged $21 million in aid to Afghanistan, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) announced on Monday.
UNICEF said: “In support of better child health amidst a devastating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the government of Japan has donated to UNICEF $ 18 million in support of essential vaccines for over 18 million mothers and children, and $3.6 million for water and sanitation facilities in public schools.”
The vaccines include measles, rotavirus, tetanus and diphtheria, polio, hepatitis B and others. These funds will also enable UNICEF to reach around 10 million children with oral polio vaccines during national vaccination campaigns in 2023.
The $ 3.6 million will enable UNICEF and partners to provide clean water, ventilated latrines, handwashing stations to 10,000 students – 50 per cent of whom are girls – in 20 schools.
Additionally, these services will benefit a further 20,000 community members who will use the new water sources. These funds will also support teachers and community members with hygiene education to prevent the spread of disease.
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