Sofia: The UNICEF Gulf Area Office and the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) have entered into agreements totaling $1.6 million to bolster programs aimed at aiding children and families in Sudan, Syria, Mauritania, Djibouti, and Armenia. These initiatives are designed to address pressing humanitarian needs while improving health, education, nutrition, and early childhood development systems, with a focus on benefiting hundreds of thousands of individuals, especially vulnerable children and women impacted by conflict and poverty.
According to Saudi Press Agency, in Sudan, UNICEF will enhance its response to the cholera outbreak in Khartoum by improving access to safe water and sanitation and engaging the community, ultimately assisting around 100,000 people. Additionally, the funding will tackle the education crisis in Al-Jazirah and Sennar states by providing 5,400 conflict-affected children with safe learning spaces and educational materials.
In Syria, the allocated funds will support the rehabilitation of schools and provision of basic learning supplies, benefiting 18,000 children. The initiative will also improve access to digital learning in alignment with the national curriculum.
In Mauritania, the program will empower girls to initiate social projects that focus on child nutrition, the enhancement of local food systems, and the promotion of women's economic participation.
In Djibouti, the funding will focus on enhancing the quality of pre-primary education and early childhood development systems.
In Armenia, the initiative aims to expand access to inclusive early childhood education and care services, benefiting children and their families.
AGFUND has a history of supporting approximately 100 UNICEF projects over the past four decades, contributing more than $100 million to various UNICEF programs.