UNITED NATIONS, Jun 18 (APP):Pakistan has told UNICEF's Executive Board that children continue to suffer in situations of armed conflict, foreign occupation and other crises that they "neither caused nor can escape," and called for urgent measures for their protection and well-being. "We urge sustained collective action to ensure that every child affected by conflict, disaster, displacement, hunger or disease receives protection, assistance and hope, " Ambassador Usman Jadoon, deputy …
Pakistan urges international action to shield children from foreign occupation, conflicts
UNITED NATIONS, Jun 18 (APP):Pakistan has told UNICEF’s Executive Board that children continue to suffer in situations of armed conflict, foreign
occupation and other crises that they “neither caused nor can escape,” and called for urgent measures for their protection and well-being.
“We urge sustained collective action to ensure that every child affected by conflict, disaster, displacement, hunger or disease receives protection, assistance and hope, ” Ambassador Usman Jadoon, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, said in his comments on the UNICEF’s annual report on humanitarian action.
“Investing in children in emergencies is not only a humanitarian imperative; it is an investment in resilience, recovery and a more secure future,” he told the Board..
The Executive Board reviews UNICEF activities and approves its policies, country programmes and budgets. It comprises 36 members, representing the five regional groups of member states at the United Nations. Its work is coordinated by the Bureau, comprising the President and four Vice-Presidents, each officer representing one of the five regional groups.
“Armed conflicts, situations of foreign occupation, climate-induced disasters, public health emergencies, food insecurity and displacement continue to exact a devastating toll on millions of children and their families,” the Pakistani envoy said.
“Equally troubling” , he added, was “the growing disregard for international humanitarian law, restrictions on humanitarian access, and the continued rise in grave violations against children.”
In this regard, Ambassador Jadoon focused the on the plight of Palestinian children in Gaza , saying it remained among the gravest illustrations of this tragedy.
“In climate-induced disasters, health emergencies and food crises, they face hunger, disease, interrupted education, unsafe water and heightened protection risks,” he said, adding, ” Their protection and well-being must never be conditional, selective or delayed.”
The Pakistani envoy underscored the need for strengthening UNICEF’s life-saving work, especially in conflicts, situations of foreign occupation, climate-induced disasters, public health emergencies, food insecurity and displacement.
“Humanitarian action must remain principled, needs-based and child-centred, with safe, timely and unimpeded access to children and families in need.”
The Pakistani envoy also called on the international community to ensure predictable, adequate and flexible funding for UNICEF’s humanitarian operations, particularly in underfunded and forgotten crises, so that essential support in child protection, nutrition, health, water and sanitation, and education in emergencies can reach every child in need.
