DILI, 22 june 2021 (TATOLI) – United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) ensures the six most essential programs can be implemented to protect vulnerable children around Timor-Leste territory.
Based on UNICEF observation for the children in Timor–Leste required more assistance for child development and child protection. UNICEF is assisting to provide equal protection to all children and even focus on children who are living in a disability situation.
“The six most important programs are provided by UNICEF to be carried out to respond to children’s demand for protection and child development. The program comprises Non-food Items, Child Protection, WASH, Health, Nutrition, Education and Social protection and Inclusion. The United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF), Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani told the TATOLI Agency, at UN house Caicoli, this tuesday.
Timor- Leste records 40% population under 14 ages and the biggest number of children and young people. UNICEF recognizes that every second child in Timor-Leste is stunting and suffering from Malnutrition, this issue caused by children not having enough nutrition and children not fully receiving vaccines.
Thus, almost 50% of children under the age of 5 are diagnosed with MalNutrition in Timor-Leste and it has an impact on child brain development.
He said UNICEF priorities for the Nutrition program to treat cases of acute malnutrition for the children in Timor-Leste. It is in collaboration with the health sector, and to strengthen preventive nutrition interventions. A total of 464 children were screened in 17 evacuation centers in flood situations and identified as suffering from mal-nutrition.
To solve this malnutrition issue, UNICEF is working closely with the Minister of Health to provide nutritious foods for children and offer counseling for mothers to give breastfeeding and avoid formula milk.
UNICEF continued to provide operational support to DILI municipality Health Services (DHS)’s operation of mobile clinics in existing evacuation centers. UNICEF Provided transportation support in order for DHS to visit each evacuation center for health check-up and distributing health essential supplies.
According to the representative of UNICEF, Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani, education is an important program to support learning activities to the children affected by natural disaster, initially in 8 centers and currently in 5, as some centers have been closed, and has reached 460 children in total.
It is recalled that this Eskola Ba Uma program provided by UNICEF in coordination with the Minister of Health, is beneficial for 24.431 students and 17.000 teachers.
UNICEF also provided extra masks and hand sanitizers to supply for each school and help students to fulfill covid-19 preventive measures.
The Social Protection and Inclusion program is an adequate program to provide education accessibility for the children living with disability.
Bilal said, UNICEF always working hard to heal children mentality affected by Natural disaster through providing child friendly space. It is to reduce children traumatic and scare on the situation happen for a child, some children keeps in heart on traumatic due on flood devastating.
UNICEF is continuing support for child-friendly spaces (CFS), and to reflect on their identity and improve self-awareness and build children confidence and nurture resilience to confront challenges.
Mr. Bilal concluded that those six programs most important to protect children from all forms can damage children’s lives. The programs guarantee the development of physical and mental development and all children in Timor-Leste deserve to have child protection.
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Journalist: Jose Belarmino de Sá
Editor: Rafy Belo
