The United Nations Children’s Fund is seeking $136 million in emergency aid donations for women and children, arguing that they are increasingly targeted in wars worldwide.
UNICEF estimates that as many as 48 million women and children in 20 countries are endangered by war. Executive Director Carol Bellamy said, “Today, children and women are not only the first casualties in armed conflict, they are being deliberately targeted and are being forced to take part in these conflicts as well.”
The funds would be used by UNICEF’s own programs for victims of war as well as to educate foreign governments, military forces, and peacekeeping forces about their responsibility to protect the rights of women and children.
