DUBAI: Kitty van der Heijden, deputy executive director of the UN children\u2019s fund, has praised the collaboration between UNICEF and the private sector to address the many urgent challenges facing the world\u2019s children.<\/p>\n
In an interview with Arab News on the fringes of the World Economic Forum in Davos, van der Heijden explained how UNICEF\u2019s partnerships are aiding its response to conflicts, mass displacements, climate change, and natural disasters.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are here in Davos to meet with the private and corporate entities who are present,\u201d van der Heijden said. \u201cWe are already in partnership with some across a range of sectors like humanitarian aid, education, AI, and non-communicable diseases, among others.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see that a lot of companies are willing to work with UNICEF as we are able to reach where they can\u2019t necessarily go.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have more conflicts than ever around the world that are destroying humanity\u2019s ability to survive and thrive. We need to deliver prosperity and keep environmental triggers and human misery under control.\u201d<\/p>\n
To confront crises, van der Heijden says UNICEF has now partnered with insurance companies, as well as logistics and shipping firms that prioritize humanitarian aid over their commercial goods in times of need.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe developed the first ever parametric climate insurance with a focus on children. For example, hurricanes are routine problems in some countries and small islands. Whenever a hurricane takes place, not only are the communities there extremely affected but so is the GDP of the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe moment wind speeds go up to a certain level, the parametric tool detects the change and automatically submits a cash deposit to UNICEF.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van der Heijden says this rapid response ensures that financial support reaches those in need without bureaucratic delays and complications.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are able to offer cash directly to affected communities, ensuring that aid arrives right when it\u2019s needed. This builds resilience in the face of recurring disasters, while also providing an early warning system to help communities prepare for future events.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another cross sector collaboration between UNICEF and private companies focuses on mental health.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrevention is the mother of all cures,\u201d said van der Heijden. \u201cUNICEF is joining forces with lots of health companies such as AstraZeneca and Zurich Foundation to address obesity and mental health issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese problems are prevalent across all societies and all ages. The reasons might be different, but it is there.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeventy percent of preventable deaths stem from risk exposure and unhealthy behaviors as a child. If you approach this issue holistically, you can prevent so many negative cycles between mental health, anxiety, and obesity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van der Heijden also said children are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of climate change. From heatwaves that affect maternal health to pollution that exacerbates respiratory problems, the risks children face are not only immediate but long term.<\/p>\n
Children, particularly in disadvantaged communities, lack access to cooling systems or safe environments, leaving them at higher risk of heat related illnesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cChildren breathe twice as fast as adults, and their exposure to pollution can be devastating,\u201d said van der Heijden. \u201cThey don\u2019t have the physical ability to cool down through sweating, which makes them vulnerable during extreme heat events.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe effects of climate change are already being felt by the world\u2019s most vulnerable populations, and children are bearing the brunt.\u201d<\/p>\n
The repercussions of climate change extend beyond health, as related economic shocks often lead to unintended social consequences, such as an increase in child marriages.<\/p>\n
In regions impacted by heatwaves, families may marry off young girls to reduce financial burdens. The economic strain caused by extreme weather events can push parents to take drastic steps \u201cto have one less mouth to feed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van der Heijden stressed the urgency of integrating children\u2019s needs into global climate policies. While countries around the world are set to submit their new climate plans this year, UNICEF is leading a global campaign to ensure that these plans are child-centric.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe year 2025 is a pivotal year,\u201d she said. \u201cWe will have a number of opportunities to act and set the record straight. Unless we understand the unique vulnerabilities of children, we cannot craft effective policies.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to make sure that every country\u2019s climate plan reflects the impacts on children and ensures that their needs are front and center.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DUBAI: Kitty van der Heijden, deputy executive director of the UN children\u2019s fund, has praised the collaboration between UNICEF and the private sector to address the many urgent challenges facing the world\u2019s children. In an interview with Arab News on the fringes of the World Economic Forum in Davos, van der Heijden explained how UNICEF\u2019s …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":76101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-76086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76086","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76086"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76086\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":76102,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76086\/revisions\/76102"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}