United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Ambassador Wang Yuan interacts with children in Therere Village, Nsanje District in southern Malawi on Aug. 27, 2024.(UNICEF/Handout via Xinhua)
BLANTYRE, Malawi, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- "I hope children in Africa can enjoy good health and nutrition, have equal educational opportunities, and receive full protection. They deserve to grow up free from violence, poverty, and disease in a safe, healthy, and joyful environment," United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Ambassador Wang Yuan said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Blantyre, Malawi's commercial hub.
As the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the International Day for South-South Cooperation approach, Wang, who is also a Chinese musician and actor, traveled to Malawi in late August to observe aid projects funded by the Chinese government during the emergency response to tropical cyclone Idai. They visited two beneficiary households in the villages of Therere and Kaleso, Nsanje District in southern Malawi, and witnessed firsthand the long-term impact of China's support on their lives.
"I'm deeply impressed by the positive impact of the collaborative projects between China and UNICEF on cyclone-affected communities," said Wang during his visits to beneficiary families in Nsanje. "The assistance provided by the Chinese government has delivered timely aid to children and families affected by climate disasters, significantly improving sanitation and environmental conditions as well as enhancing child nutrition."
Malawi, recognized by the United Nations as one of the world's least developed countries, has long been plagued by natural disasters such as droughts and floods. In March 2019, cyclone Idai struck southern Africa, killing hundreds of people. In Malawi, it affected about 1 million people, with around half of them being children and approximately 125,000 displaced, according to UNICEF.
To support these affected children and families, the Chinese government provided 1 million U.S. dollars through the South-South Cooperation framework to UNICEF Malawi. The grant, spanning from October 2019 to May 2021, offered comprehensive aid in water, health, nutrition, sanitation, education, and other critical fields.
According to UNICEF China, the Chinese-funded support achieved several significant outcomes: water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions were implemented across 12 targeted areas; community-based acute malnutrition management was provided for 4,106 children aged 6 to 59 months with severe acute malnutrition, and acute malnutrition screening was conducted for 390,104 children under five; educational assistance, including textbooks and learning materials, was provided to 85,572 children; and basic health services were supplied to 172,079 people, including disease prevention and treatment supplies for children and women.
The support also included training for affected mothers to enhance their knowledge of child nutrition, health, and sanitation. "During the visit, I observed that mothers who received training now pay more attention to their children's nutrition and hygiene, which has had a profound and positive impact on their lives," Wang said.
Wang also highlighted ongoing challenges, saying, "These areas still face issues such as inadequate sanitation facilities, water shortages, malnutrition, and unequal educational opportunities. Climate change also poses severe challenges to families in these regions, especially children."
To address these challenges, Wang called for enhanced international cooperation. "International cooperation is crucial for improving the survival and development of children in Africa. For instance, during the emergency response to cyclone Idai, China provided funding through South-South Cooperation to UNICEF, offering substantial and comprehensive support to local families and children," he said.
As UNICEF ambassador, Wang said the field visit gave him a deeper understanding of the health and educational conditions of African children. "I will continue to use my influence to raise public awareness about children's rights, health, and education issues."
"In the future, I hope to participate in more international cooperation projects and actively advocate for the sustainable development of child health and education through educational and awareness-raising activities," Wang added. ■