Category: New Zealand NGOs

Source: Save The Children

ROME, 3 October 2023 – The number of children losing their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean has risen to 4% of all deaths, up from less than 1% in 2014, despite promises of action after more than 360 people died in a shipwreck off Lampedusa, Save the Children said on Tuesday.

It is exactly 10 years since an overcrowded boat heading from Libya sank off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa, in one of the Mediterranean’s worst shipwrecks. About 155 people were rescued but an estimated 368 died. A decade later, no real progress has been made in the EU political action to save people at sea.

More than 28,000 people aspiring for a better future have been reported dead or missing in the Mediterranean since 2014, according to the latest figures released by the Missing Migrants Project of the IOM. Among them, over 1,100 were children, which now account for four in every 100 deaths.

More than 112,000 unaccompanied children have arrived in Italy by sea since 2014, with more than 11,600 arriving in 2023 alone.

After the 2013 shipwreck, European authorities vowed “never again”. A decade later, it seems no number is high enough to take systemic and EU-led action to put human rights first. In the absence of safe pathways to reach Europe and improved search and rescue coordinated efforts, horrific deaths at sea will continue to happen.

“People fleeing from conflict, violence, extreme poverty, and the impacts of climate change still risk their lives, often relying on traffickers in the absence of safe and legal routes to reach Europe,” said Giovanna di Benedetto, Save the Children’s spoke person in Lampedusa.

Save the Children is calling the EU and its Member States to take responsibility for protecting children and vulnerable people at EU sea and land borders. It is of utmost urgency to set up coordinated search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea, to ensure ships face no obstacles when they rescue people in distress, to provide safe and legal routes to seek safety in Europe and to share responsibility for the assistance of children and vulnerable people.

Save the Children emphasises the crucial need to ensure that every unaccompanied child can access essential rights and protection in Italy, no matter their age. Every child, unequivocally, deserves the right to adequate care and support, in consideration not only of their hardships and traumas but also of their aspirations and hopes.

NOTES:

IOM – Missing Migranst Project data https://missingmigrants.iom.int/region/mediterranean.  Data accessed September 27, 2023

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Source: Save The Children

DHAKA, 3 October 2023 – At least 113 children have died¹ from dengue fever in Bangladesh this year as the country sees the highest number of deaths caused by the mosquito transmitted disease ever recorded, with the climate crisis cited as a major factor, said Save the Children. The vast majority of child deaths (86) are children under 10, with 38 deaths of children under five.

Across the country, more than 1,000 people have died and around 225,000 have been infected with the illness, including over 38,000 children. The actual number of deaths and cases is likely to be higher as many cases are not reported.

Hospitals that were being used to treat COVID-19 patients during the global pandemic are now being used for dengue cases, with the healthcare system stretched to its limits.

Children and youth under 20 make up around 30% of all dengue cases in Bangladesh, with younger children and are particularly vulnerable to the virus because of underdeveloped immune systems. Children often play outside without long sleeves covering their arms, and many do not use mosquito nets to sleep under at night. Children under five are particularly at risk from developing severe symptoms such as dehydration and shock from dengue.

Dengue cases are rising globally with 70% of them occurring in Asia. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that 3.9 billion people – or half of the world’s population – are at risk of infection. Half a million cases were reported in 2000 compared with 4.2 million in 2022 – an eight-fold increase. 

The surge in cases is being linked to the climate crisis. Dhaka has seen its highest temperatures in six decades this year, with an unusually hot spring followed by heavy monsoon rains. Stagnant water, even in very small amounts, creates a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and the rainy season has not ended yet. The El Niño weather phenomenon – which is expected to exacerbate already rising temperatures in Asia – is also predicted to increase mosquito borne diseases like dengue. 

Dengue is a virus that is carried by mosquitoes and causes severe flu like symptoms including high fevers, headaches and severe joint pain – and in some cases, shock and organ failure.

Dr Lima Rahman, Health Director for Save the Children in Bangladesh, said:

“Dengue is a relentless enemy, particularly when it comes to our children and their families. Its impact reaches far beyond the physical suffering of the infected child. It disrupts their education, puts immense economic & emotional pressure on families, and strains our healthcare systems.

“We must remember that every case of dengue is not just a statistic; it’s a person who deserves a healthy and happy life. We must continue our efforts to prevent and control this disease.

“Education and awareness are crucial.  We need to train and equip more healthcare workers to diagnose and treat dengue and initiate youth-led public information campaigns, so children and their families know how to protect themselves by removing stagnant water around their homes and using nets, screens and repellent.”

Save the Children has been working with communities and local governments in six urban areas across Bangladesh to raise awareness of how to prevent dengue. This has included running an assessment in each community of people’s knowledge of the illness; at the start of the programme, not a single respondent achieved an ‘excellent’ score, however after a month of the campaign, 50% of respondents scored ‘excellent’, showing a marked improvement in understanding of how to protect their families from mosquitoes.

Save the Children has been working in Bangladesh to improve the quality of children’s lives for more than 50 years. To date, we have reached more than 2 million children under 5. We focus on improving access, use, and quality of health services, particularly for those most impacted by inequality and discrimination.

ENDS

[1] Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, 2 October 2023; Figures of children only counted as 15 years and under, so children 16-17 that aren’t included in this figure. Children 16 – 17 are counted within a wider figure of 16 – 20 within the Government systems.

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Source: Save The Children

A portrait of Leydy, 6, her mother Nimia, 30, and brother Jhon, 11, while picking potatoes that they left to freeze-dry in the fields. Photo: Adriana Loureiro Fernandez / Save the Children

LA PAZ, 3 October – In Bolivia’s highlands, where life’s rhythm largely follows the agricultural calendar, a crop emergency is unfolding and pushing families to the brink of hunger, Save the Children said.

One staple is a particular victim – the potato – which is now under threat in the region due to recent erratic weather patterns and changing climate conditions. 

For generations, potatoes have been an agricultural lifeline in the high-altitude region of Potosí, Bolivia, where few other plants survive 3,700m above sea level. The hardy crop, first farmed in the South American Andes some 8,000 years ago, is versatile and well suited for the region’s rugged terrain.

Over the past few months, Bolivia, like much of South America, has been sweltering under a “heat dome”, causing temperatures in the country to soar to a staggering 45°C – unprecedented during the winter. In August, Bolivia recorded the highest winter temperature in the Southern Hemisphere; last week, Save the Children reported that more than half the country was in drought.

Severe drought in Potosí, of the six of Bolivia’s departments experiencing drought, has reduced water flow by a third, dropping from 180 litres per second to a mere 60 litres per second. Many families in the highlands currently do not have access to water daily, while some get it only once a week. The lack of rain and access to water have meant that farmers are unable to water their crops.

Silvia, a mother of five living in the region of Potosí, lost most of her potato harvest this year due to dry, hot weather, coupled with an untimely frost. What she did manage to harvest only sustained her family for a few weeks, leaving them without potatoes until her next harvest. Silvia said:

“[It’s been] very hot and when it is hot, potatoes don’t grow because the soil is burning, and the potatoes get cooked. We live off the crops we plant but when crops don’t grow, we don’t have food to eat. We have to buy [food], but we [don’t have enough] money because there’s not much work here. This is a remote place. [Before], I could provide everything for my children: clothes, school supplies, food, and electricity. But now, almost everything I do is not enough.”

This year’s poor harvest is contributing to a significant rise in vegetables prices, with Silvia spending about 50% of her income on food as she is unable to grow enough herself.

Silvia’s family has been living off the land for generations. Her mother Eugenia, 73, added that this year’s circumstances are unprecedented, explaining “there is no rain anymore; this is one of the worst harvests I have had in my life.”

As temperatures continue to soar in South America, the return of El Niño this year looms large, potentially bringing more intense weather extremes and a rise in temperatures, exacerbating the already accelerating impacts of the climate crisis.

“The weather is changing here. Last year I harvested a lot,” said Nimia, 30, who grows potatoes with her family to make chuño, a dehydrated potato product typical of Quechua communities. “But we haven’t harvested much. The crop became wormy, and it hasn’t rained since last year, so the harvest is no good.”

Much like Silvia, Nimia’s potato harvest suffered a significant setback this year after the frost and drought lead to smaller-than-usual potatoes. To help her potatoes grow, Nimia used fertilizer which contributed to the crop getting a worm infestation. Since her family cannot waste food this year, Nimia and her children used the small potatoes—worms and all—to make chuño.

More than half the population in Bolivia are currently food insecure, mainly those in rural areas. Food insecurity in the country will continue to worsen as weather extremes events become more severe and frequent, decimating vital farming and livestock.

Marianela Montes de Oca, Save the Children’s Country Director in Bolivia, said:

“Potatoes are a lifeline for families in Bolivia. For generations, the crop has provided comfort, substance and a livelihood for families. If crop failure continues to worsen, hunger in Bolivia will soar. This serves as a stark reminder that the battle against hunger is closely tied to the health of our planet and the resilience of our food systems.”

Save the Children is helping women like Silvia and Nimia in Bolivia become entrepreneurs, so they can earn enough money to care for their children. Both Silvia and Nimia run successful small businesses, so they are less reliant on their harvest to earn money. Silvia knits and makes empanadas, while Nimia set up a cake business.

Save the Children is calling on world leaders, particularly from high-income countries and historical emitters, to take action on the climate crisis that includes increasing adaptation finance and providing funding for losses and damages through the provision of new and additional climate finance. Leaders must also place children and child-critical social services at the centre of their efforts. Governments must also recognise children as key agents of change in addressing the climate crisis and work to urgently limit warming temperatures to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. 

ENDS

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For further enquiries please contact:

–          Samantha Halyk, Senior Global Media Manager, samantha.halyk@savethechildren.org (based in London)

–          Maria Gabriela Alvarado, Regional Media Manager, maria.alvarado@savethechildren.org (based in Panama)

–          Our media out of hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409

Please also check our Twitter account @Save_GlobalNews for news alerts, quotes, statements and location Vlogs.

Source: Save The Children

Luul, 23, in front of a solar panel in Garowe, Puntland. Awale Koronto/Save the Children

There is a big difference in my life when I compare before and after the training. I used to stay at home and dropped out of the school. I had dreams that were hard to achieve, and I didn’t have the skills to work. But now I’m equipped with a valuable skill that can help me achieve my dreams.”

These are the hopeful words of Luul, 23-year-old Somali young women who dropped out of school in 7th grade as she was not able to pay her school fee. Her story represents the journey of many young people in Somalia who do not have a formal skill to work – many of them drop out of school due to conflict or lack financial means to earn a university degree that can help them gain skills.

However, Luul’s story represents the transformative impact of equipping youth with sustainable technical skills. Luul’s fortunes turned around when she joined a free solar energy training programme helping disadvantaged young people in Somalia implemented by Save the Children.

I was excited to get the opportunity to learn this skill. After dropping out, finding work seemed impossible without experience or a degree from a university.”

In 2022, while living with her sister, Luul met with a friend who was taking a solar training course at an institute in Garowe, Puntland, and that caught her interest. After some research, she saw the possibility of having a skill that could help her gain work and might help her  resume her studies. Luul was thrilled and excited to start the 6 month training course.

One of my biggest ambitions at the moment is to work in the field of renewable energy, earn my living and education costs for my 4 younger siblings back home. I don’t want them to miss school just like me over financial circumstances.” she said.

I researched and asked about the skills, its importance and value – and surprisingly, it is quite valuable, and I was excited to get the opportunity to register and learn it.

Luul, 23, studying in her technical class as part of the solar energy training course in Puntland, Somalia. Awale Koronto/Save the Children

The cost of electricity is very high in Somalia, and many families do not have access to electricity, making renewable energy a powerful solution to reduce costs and increase access to electricity to low-income families. For Luul, this energy transition has created opportunities for her and many other young, skilled solar technicians.

I believe that the training has come at the right time, that the local community needed it very much considering (it allows) access to affordable clean energy, and the youth can now get job opportunities after benefiting from the course.”

Mohamed, 24, has also benefitted from tailored training initiatives in areas like solar that is providing Somali youth with technical skills, job opportunities, and hope for the future. He was born and raised in a coastal town in the north-eastern Bari region of Somalia. He left school to become a fisherman following his family’s footsteps and to support the family financially.

However, the fishing proved to be a struggle. Mohamed found himself unemployed with no certificate. Mounting life challenges including unemployment, pushed Mohamed to leave his hometown for Garowe district. In 2021, he arrived in the city seeking new skills and job opportunities to change his life and support his family.

I have struggled with fishing, but I did not have the knowledge or skill to find different job in my hometown at the time. I moved to Nugal with no place to stay, no job in place or even skill or certificate I could work with but with only one plan in my head – to get a job.”

I knew I needed skills to find job, so I started looking for schools or institutes that I could afford and learn some skills. One day, I was meeting some friends and they mentioned a social media post about an institute that was giving free solar training installation course. I was happy to hear that and I went there and registered.”

Mohammed, 24, working on a solar panel as part of the training course in Puntland, Somalia. Awale Koronto/Save the Children

For both Luul and Mohamed, who have faced challenges to complete formal education and get employment without credentials, vocational training programmes offer a better life and job prospects. They see it as a valuable chance to gain skills in growing renewable energy sector. 

Save the Children, in collaboration with the Puntland Ministry of Labour, Youth and Sports and funding from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has trained a total of 140 youth in Puntland, including Luul and Mohamed.

The 6-month curriculum focused on hands-on practical learning of solar energy installation and maintenance skills. Participants also built entrepreneurial abilities to start renewable energy businesses. The programme enabled inclusive access by covering all transportation, safety gear, and equipment costs and providing a stipend to help the young people get the things they needed while studying.

As technical training expert, Mr. Abdi Dek Abdirahman explained:

Our goal is to provide affordable, accessible skills training to young people struggling to find work and support their families. We believe everyone deserves a chance to succeed, and that targeted skills training is key to unlocking opportunities and transforming lives.”

Beyond technical training, the project also helped graduates establish their own small solar businesses by providing start-up tool kits and linking them with potential employers. This is helping young entrepreneurs become self-sufficient while creating job opportunities for others.

Source: Save The Children

Anuska, climate child activist from Nepal with Saathi the air bear at the Climate March at UNGA in New York. Save the Children

Anuska, a climate child campaigner from Nepal was part of the Save the Children delegation that went to New York to advocate for children’s rights and the fight against the climate crisis at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly and the Sustainable Development Goals Summit.

Anuska, together with another two climate activists, Maureen and Istia, from Zambia and Bangladesh respectively, pushed for urgent Climate Action to protect children’s lives and futures. After long days of campaigning and taking part in the Climate march, Anuska felt compelled to put her thoughts and feelings into a poem. Her powerful words are evidence that children are leading the way to a better world and it is time world leaders listen and take action!

 

Anuska’s Poem: 

 

The Earth had an alluring beaty,

By the grace of God,

But these brutal humans, neglecting their duty; 

Forgive our sins, oh dear lord!

 

Listen to me, you all

For it shall never befall

that we fail to take a close watch

Even after assembling here for the climate march

 

For our nature, her beauty, together we unite

To relieve this palnet of its plight

In a worlf of hunger and pollution galore

The Earth looks upon us with uttel deplore

We raise our voices, fire in our hearts,

To quell the chaos our species impart

We don’t have forever, we’re meant to depart

Still on the cusp of change, we”ll mend what’s torn apart

 

No doubt it’ll be an arduous task

To prevent the Earth of its grim “cul de sac”

For now we march with indomitable spirit

And make the world a plave where hope is re-lit.

 

 Anuska,17, from Nepal, Maureen, 16, from Zambia, and Istia, 18, from Bangladesh, during SDG Week in NY, USA. Save the Children

Meet other climate child activists who are also doing their part to make the world a better and safer place for future generations.

Source: Save The Children

ABUJA, 29 September – A staggering 7,202 cases of diphtheria, a highly contagious bacterial infection that can be fatal without treatment, were confirmed in Nigeria last week, with cases skyrocketing in recent months and children severely affected, said Save the Children.

There have been 453 deaths confirmed since the outbreak started in May 2022, with most cases recorded in the past three months. The vast majority of the confirmed cases (6,185) were recorded in Kano, the second most populous state in Nigeria, located in the north of the country.

Three in every four confirmed cases – or 73.6% of all cases – are of children under 14, with those aged between 5-14 years bearing the brunt of the disease.

Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease that has largely been eradicated across the world, although periodic outbreaks happen in places where large groups of children have missed this routine vaccination, such as the disruptions to vaccinations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, even prior to the pandemic, Nigeria already had one of the lowest vaccination rates in the world, with efforts to strengthen routine immunisation coverage and reduce under-five mortality having limited success.

Currently only 42% of children under 15 in Nigeria are fully protected from diphtheria, and in this most recent outbreak, 80% of the confirmed cases have been found to be people who are unvaccinated.

In coordination with local authorities, Save the Children is launching a wide-scale health response in the three most impacted states of Kano, Yobe and Katsina. Save the Children’s Emergency Health Unit is deploying expert health and supply chain staff to help over-stretched clinics to detect and treat diphtheria cases and to support with mass vaccination campaigns across the worst hit areas.

However, Save the Children is warning a mass vaccination campaign will only be successful if the vaccine shortage is urgently dealt with. Severe shortages in Nigeria of the required vaccine and the antitoxin needed to treat the disease mean the situation could continue to escalate placing many children at risk of severe illness and death, said the child rights organisation.

Faton Krasniqi, Save the Children’s Interim Country Director for Nigeria, said:

“The entire humanitarian community is alert to the crisis here. We are coordinating closely together and working alongside the Nigerian Ministry of Health to ensure we reach everyone who needs treatment and to contain the spread of the disease.

“Diphtheria can be fatal in more than 10% of cases, but this can increase in places like overcrowded displacement camps or informal settlements in cities, where families have limited access to health services or where health facilities are overwhelmed.

“The response to this outbreak requires an urgent injection of funding and a large supply of vaccines to ensure we can contain it, and to save children’s lives.”

Save the Children is calling on donors to support the comprehensive response being launched by the government, UN, and aid agencies to support local health services to cope with the influx of diphtheria cases, procure more vaccines and to roll out a mass vaccination campaign.

Save the Children has been working in Nigeria since 2001, providing food, clean water, nutrition and protection services, sexual and reproductive health care, and education to families across the country. Save the Children is also providing technical support to the government on policy changes and reforms, especially in critical sectors such as health, education, and social protection, among others.

Save the Children’s Emergency Health Unit will work side-by-side with local health workers to ensure they have the skills and equipment needed to detect and treat diphtheria cases and to conduct contract tracing and community education to help reduce the spread of the disease. The unit is also on standby to support with mass vaccination campaigns as vaccine supplies become available.

The Emergency Health Unit has years of experience responding to and containing disease outbreaks, including Ebola, cholera, COVID-19 and measles. The unit was last in Nigeria in 2022 responding to a cholera outbreak.

– ENDS –

For further enquiries please contact:

• Daphnee Cook in Nairobi daphnee.cook@savethechildren.org
• Kunle Olawoyin in Lagos Kunle.Olawoyin@savethechildren.org

Our media out of hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409

Please also check our Twitter account @Save_GlobalNews for news alerts, quotes, statements and location Vlogs.

Source: Save The Children

YEREVAN, 29 September 2023 – At least 26,400 children, or 30% of all the recently displaced people, and their families who fled the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia in recent weeks are in desperate need of shelter, food, clothing, hygiene supplies and psychological first aid, says Save the Children. 

More than half of Nagorno-Karabakh’s population – or over 88,000 people – have fled to Armenia since violence erupted on 19 September, with numbers expected to increase in coming days. 

Save the Children’s emergency staff in Armenia say that forcibly displaced children from Nagorno-Karabakh are showing signs of severe distress, with some saying they have spent over three days on the road to reach Armenia without any food and water. 

In the past nine months, residents of Nagorno-Karabakh have suffered from food and medicine shortages due to the blockade of the road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. 

Many parents are saying they are scared to stay close to the border, and once they arrive at the reception centers, they request to be relocated as far as possible from the Azerbaijan-Armenia border. 

As cities like Goris reach full capacity, Save the Children’s teams are now raising concerns about the safety of displaced children, as some families are left with no option but to sleep on the streets. 

Iren Sargsyan, Save the Children’s Humanitarian Advisor currently in Armenia, said: 

“Children are once again at the forefront of the crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. Most families have fled to Armenia with just basic necessities and will now have to start from scratch, many children will have seen violence or lost loved ones, some parents tell us their children won’t stop crying.  This situation will play a heavy psychological toll on children, especially those who were displaced and have already witnessed violence during clashes in 2020. It is our responsibility to prioritise their safety and protect their future.” 

Save the Children is calling for the immediate cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh and for the safety and protection of civilians, particularly children, to be prioritised, in line with international humanitarian law and the rules of war.  

Save the Children is running a rapid needs assessment through its local partners in Goris town and other areas in Armenia and is planning to support displaced families with cash assistance to help cover basic needs for food and clothing, distribution of relief items like hygiene kits, psychosocial support and education activities for children. 

ENDS

Source: Save The Children

BRUSSELS, 28 September – 27 humanitarian, human rights, and refugee rights organisations welcome the decision of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union to extend the Temporary Protection Directive for refugees fleeing Ukraine for an additional year, until 4 March 2025.

This is a positive step, continuing to provide a lifeline for those displaced by the war, and offering them a chance to rebuild their lives by granting continued rights to access to essential services, including healthcare, education, and employment. 

The organisations urge the EU and its Member States to work together in ensuring these rights are enjoyed in practice.

For example, a worryingly high number of children from Ukraine who have fled to neighbouring countries are not in school. In Poland, which hosts the highest number of refugees fleeing Ukraine, 56 per cent of children who had fled the country were not studying in Polish schools at the end of the last school year. In Romania, the figure is as low as 10 per cent.

Willy Bergogne, Director of Save the Children Europe said:

“The extension of the Temporary Protection Directive today is both welcome and necessary. But it is not sufficient: ensuring all children from Ukraine are in school, that all refugees have a safe home and feel included in their host societies requires dedicated effort and sustained resourcing.”

The organisations also highlighted the need to establish longer-term protections for refugees fleeing Ukraine, calling upon the EU and its Member States to explore sustainable solutions that go beyond the immediate extension period.

“Refugees we speak to face any number of uncertainties, first and foremost when it will be safe to return to Ukraine. EU member states should urgently seek to remove one additional source of uncertainty – their protections in the EU at the end of the TPD extension in March 2025”, said Imogen Sudbery, IRC’s Senior Advocacy Director for Europe.

Lastly, the organisations call for the Temporary Protection Directive to be applied to all refugees fleeing Ukraine, to limit discrimination of vulnerable groups such as third-country nationals, Roma refugees, stateless persons, and people who were seeking asylum or holding international protection status in Ukraine.

The display of unity and compassion in extending protection for refugees from Ukraine is notably absent in the ongoing negotiations surrounding the Migration and Asylum Pact. The organisations call upon EU institutions to approach the Pact negotiations with the same spirit of humanity as the TPD, recognizing that refugees, regardless of their country of origin, deserve equal levels of solidarity, protection and care.

Signatories

• Save the Children
• International Rescue Committee
• Oxfam
• HelpAge International
• HIAS Europe
• CCME (Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe)
• European Network Against Racism (ENAR)
• Child Circle
• Plan International 
• Danish Refugee Council
• Association for Legal Intervention (SIP)
• European Evangelical Alliance (EEA)
• CARE International
• European Network on Statelessness
• Amnesty International
• Critical Education Association (SEK), Poland
• Kaleidoscope of Cultures, Poland
• Right to Protection, Ukraine
• Polish Migration Forum Foundation (PFM)
• Migration Consortium, Poland
• Nomada Association, Poland
• OVUM Association, Poland
• Salam Lab (Stowarzyszenie Laboratorium Działań dla Pokoju)
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
• Alliance of Lawyers for Human Rights (A.A.D.H.)
• Immigrant Council of Ireland
• Irish Refugee Council

For more information please contact:

Source: Save The Children

LA PAZ, 28 September 2023 – A combination of intense winter heat fuelled by the climate crisis and the El Niño phenomenon has created a major drought emergency across Bolivia, said Save the Children.

Six out of the nine departments across Bolivia are in drought, with over 200,000 families particularly vulnerable to its impacts. More than 71 local municipalities – or 20% in the country – have been officially declared a disaster. The lack of water has led to increasing rates of disease in children, with many drinking stagnant water and catching water-borne illnesses^[i], while many others are experiencing a disruption to their education, with the unusually high temperatures forcing some schools to change their opening hours to avoid the midday heat.

On Monday, Bolivia recorded its hottest ever September temperature of 40.3C^[ii]. Temperatures are expected to reach as high as 45C in some parts of the country this week. By December, there is a “high probability” Bolivia’s iconic Lake Titicaca will be 64cm below the drought alert level, breaking a low water record set in 1998 by 33cm.

The child rights organisation called for increased funding to support communities affected by the drought, which has escalated into a major humanitarian crisis in Bolivia, as well as more urgent action to tackle the climate crisis globally.

The drought is also drying up fresh clean water sources for livestock and destroying crops, affecting the agricultural production of more than 10,200 hectares of farmland and risking the lives of over 130,000 heads of cattle, according to Bolivia’s Ministry of Defence.

Families living in the highland areas and indigenous communities are being particularly affected, with water flow to highland families in the Potosi region reduced by a third^[iii]. Families who rely on the natural environment for their income – including pink trout farmers, camelid herders, and people in the tourist industry – have seen their livelihoods literally dry up around them.

Bolivia, along with other countries in South America, has been experiencing its warmest winter on record, thanks to a “heat dome”, which occurs when high pressure builds up over an area and stays there, trapping hot air, for an extended period.

Marianela Montes de Oca, Country Director for Save the Children in Bolivia, said: “The impact of the long, hot winter and now the start of this extremely hot dry Spring is unlike anything we have seen before. This heat is a danger to children, their families, animals and the land. I cannot remember the last time we had rain.

“This is doubtless in large part due to the El Niño phenomenon and indicates the serious havoc it can wreak on communities. But human-made climate change is pushing these temperatures up further. This is a perfect example of how the climate crisis is already with us now. In six of the country’s nine departments, families are without clean water, they are losing the land they rely on to survive, and children’s lives, rights and futures are under threat.

“These extreme temperatures are frightening for us all. It is supposed to be our coolest time of year – and it is 35, 40C outside. What does this mean for the land on which 12 million people live? How will our people feed themselves?”

Bolivia’s drought is understood be the a result of a combination of factors, including climate change, and natural phenomena like El Niño, which arrived unusually early this year. This is the second consecutive year of drought for the country – and increasing uncertainty is forcing families and children to migrate to cities, putting pressure on urban infrastructure and having a detrimental impact on children’s education and stability.

Save the Children is calling on world leaders, particularly from high-income countries and historical emitters, to take action on the climate crisis that includes increasing adaptation finance and providing funding for losses and damages through the provision of new and additional climate finance. Leaders must also place children and child-critical social services at the centre of their efforts. Governments must also recognise of children as key agents of change in addressing the climate crisis and work to urgently limit warming temperatures to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. 

Save the Children is also calling for increased funding to help communities prepare for the worst impacts of the El Niño phenomenon to better protect children’s lives.

In Bolivia, Save the Children is providing emergency support with cash, vouchers, and food aid to vulnerable communities affected by the drought and is monitoring the situation and assessing people’s medium-long term needs. 

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For further enquiries please contact:

–                      Emily Wight in London Emily.wight@savethechildren.org

–                      Maria Gabriela Alvarado in Panama Alvarado maria.alvarado@savethechildren.org 

Our media out of hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409

Please also check our Twitter account @Save_GlobalNews for news alerts, quotes, statements and location Vlogs.

Source: Save The Children

STRASBOURG, 26 Sept 2023 – Six Portuguese children and young people – aged between 11 and 24 – will have a landmark case heard by the European Court of Human Rights tomorrow in a historic opportunity to hold governments to account for their failure to meet their climate commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement, said Save the Children.

The hearing of the Duarte Agostinho case – the first climate change case ever brought before the Court[i] and the first against so many states – will take place on Wednesday 27 September, in a milestone moment for children’s rights and the planet. Save the Children submitted an official third-party intervention to the Court  in May 2021, and has watched the progress of the case closely since.

In the case, the six young applicants – André (15), Catarina (23), Cláudia (24), Mariana (11), Martim (20) and Sofia (18) – argue that 32 European countries are failing to take adequate measures to keep global warming below 1.5°C and are therefore failing to meet commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement. They also argue that the inaction of the countries threatens their rights to life and to a healthy, protected environment, as guaranteed under European law.

The case was filed in September 2020 and was at the time the first climate change action brought before the European Court of Human Rights. If successful, countries will be legally bound to take more action to address the climate crisis. The Court granted the case a priority status and deferred it to the Grand Chamber of the Court due to the importance of the issues raised.

Save the Children’s intervention speaks to the specific vulnerability of children to the effects of the climate crisis and outlines the impact of climate change on children’s right to safety, health, education and a prosperous future.

Existing Save the Children research shows that a child born in 2020 will experience on average nearly seven times as many heatwaves during their lifetime as their grandparents’ generation. The rights of children must be protected immediately, given the systemic threat posed by climate change and its severe impact on all children, and particularly the children impacted by inequality and discrimination. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child also recently established that inaction by governments and businesses to address the environmental crisis constitutes a child rights violation.

Ulrika Cilliers, Global Director of Policy and Advocacy at Save the Children, said:

“Children are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, so it is essential they have platforms to voice their concerns and hold those responsible to account. We support the power of children leading the way on climate action. We stand with Sofia, Catarina, Cláudia, André, Mariana and Martim as they now have their concerns heard by the European Court of Human Rights.

“Despite the catastrophic implications of the climate crisis on children’s rights, and the growing global movement of children calling for ambitious climate action, children are conspicuously absent from climate discussions, commitments, and policies.

“The world must recognize the legitimacy and power of children’s voices and their leadership in the climate movement. Governments need to establish child-friendly methods to facilitate children’s role in climate policy making, and their suggestions must be acted upon.

“The climate crisis is truly a child rights crisis. Without sufficient action children’s survival, development, environment and education are at grave risk.”

Save the Children is advised in relation to its third-party intervention on a pro bono basis by the law firm Hausfeld & Co. LLP, alongside a team of barristers comprising Tim Otty QC and Ravi Mehta of Blackstone Chambers and Emma-Louise Fenelon of 1 Crown Office Row.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

 

About the European Court of Human Rights

The European Court of Human Rights is an international court within the Council of Europe based in Strasbourg, France.  It rules on applications alleging violations of civil and political rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights against any of the 46 States parties to that Convention, such as the application brought by the six Portuguese children and youth. Its judgments are binding on the countries concerned and have led governments to change their legislation and practices in a wide range of areas.

 

About Save the Children’s intervention

The European Court of Human Rights can allow third parties to intervene in its cases. This allows parties with relevant experience and expertise to assist the Court in its decision making. An intervener is neither an applicant nor a respondent in the application. 

In this case, the Court granted Save the Children’s request to provide written observations about the relationship between climate change and children’s rights.

 

About the case

The case is Duarte Agostinho & 5 Others v Portugal & 31 Others, more information can be found here.

The case is brought by six young people from Portugal: André (15), Catarina (23), Cláudia (24), Mariana (11), Martim (20) and Sofia (18). More details about the applicants can be found here.

The case was originally filed against all 27 Member States of the EU plus Norway, Russia, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine and the UK. The applicants have since withdrawn their case against Ukraine, so the respondent states are now 32.

Save the Children’s third-party intervention in full is available here.