The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has announced a USD9.4 billion emergency funding appeal to serve more than 327 million people worldwide, including 177 million children, who have been affected by humanitarian crises and the Covid-19 pandemic. According to sources, this year's fundraising appeal is 31% greater than the previous year's.

In a press statement, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said, "Millions of children around the world are suffering from the impacts of conflict, extreme weather events, and the climate crisis."

"As the Covid-19 pandemic enters its third year, the condition of these children is exacerbated by weak economies, rising poverty, and increasing inequality. As is customary, the children who are already going through a crisis are the ones that suffer the most. They require immediate assistance." UNICEF's response in Afghanistan, where 13 million children require immediate humanitarian aid, is included in the appeal. One million children, for example, are suffering from severe acute malnutrition at a time when the health system is on the point of collapsing.

The Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator, a global effort to speed the development, manufacture, and equitable access to Covid-19 diagnostics, treatments, and immunizations, will get an additional USD933 million, according to UNICEF.

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