UNICEF teams on the ground are already hard at work shoring up critical services. During the month of November, for example, UNICEF covered the salaries of 10,000 front-line health workers in more than 1,000 health facilities and supported over 1,000 health facilities with medical supplies and winter heating materials. UNICEF also provided critical primary health care services, including immunization, through health facilities and mobile health and nutrition teams; vaccinated nearly 105,000 children under 5 against measles; and supported a polio immunization campaign that reached 8.5 million children, including over 2 million children living in previously inaccessible areas.
During that same month, UNICEF was able to treat more than 37,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition; provided over 22,000 people with access to safe water, including through water trucking; and distributed cash and winter clothes to families living in the provinces with the highest poverty rate and most severe winter conditions.
Support from partners like Zakat Foundation of America help expand UNICEF's emergency response in Afghanistan
These and other emergency efforts are being expanded with help from partners. Zakat Foundation of America, for example, a faith-based organization and UNICEF USA partner headquartered in Chicago, is contributing to UNICEF's response in Afghanistan with a $200,000 donation to help cover the costs of providing blankets, heavy-duty tarps, safe water and sanitation supplies and warm winter clothing to 10,000 families, including 37,000 children.