Over 420,000 children in the Amazon basin are suffering severely from a drought that is affecting much of South America, disrupting water supplies and river transport, according to UNICEF.
This unprecedented drought is impacting Indigenous and other communities in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru that rely on boat transportation, the UN agency reported.
“We are witnessing the destruction of a vital ecosystem that families depend on, leaving numerous children without sufficient food, water, health care, and education,” stated UNICEF chief Catherine Russell.
The resulting food insecurity has heightened the risk of child malnutrition, the agency indicated, while diminished access to drinking water could lead to an uptick in infectious diseases.
In Colombia’s Amazon region, the scarcity of drinking water and food has led to the suspension of classes in 130 schools. Meanwhile, over 50 clinics in Peru have become inaccessible.
UNICEF has announced that it requires €9.31 million in the coming months to assist the affected communities in these three countries, which includes providing water supplies and deploying health brigades.
