Zambia’s drought response must focus on child protection, says UNICEF

UNICEF Zambia has urged the implementation of a comprehensive drought response programme that enhances Child Protection systems and adheres to quality standards across the country.

In a presentation at the Norwegian Church Aid and Dan Church Aid Workshop in Lusaka on Wednesday, UNICEF stressed the importance of addressing the challenges posed by drought, including displacements, family separation, hunger and psychosocial distress.

The presentation, titled “Child Protection in Humanitarian Action,” called for a social ecological approach to mitigate the crisis’s impact on children and combat stigmatization, community tensions and the erosion of social norms.

UNICEF Zambia highlighted that the ongoing drought had left children vulnerable to malnutrition, health risks, water scarcity and displacement.

The agency also pointed out that economic hardships have led to a rise in child labor, with families struggling to survive.

“Psychosocial stress caused by food and water shortages, displacement, and uncertainty can severely impact children’s mental health,” UNICEF stated.

The agency further warned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) could worsen, increasing the risks of child marriage and transactional sex as desperate families resort to extreme measures.

UNICEF recommended that the government and organizations collaborate with existing child protection mechanisms at the community level and support school attendance through initiatives like school feeding programmes.

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