KABUL – *The extremely dry winter has affected 22 provinces acrossAfghanistan and now threatens to negatively impact the lives of one millionpeople, with an additional two million who could feel its effects over thecoming months, UNICEF said in a statement on Tuesday.*

Food insecurity and reduced access to safe water are beginning to taketheir toll in the 10 worst affected provinces, where 20 to 30 percent ofwater sources are reportedly dry, the statement read, TOLO News hasreported.

“The impact on children could be devastating, as these areas havepre-existing high rates of malnutrition. Without adequate nutritious foodand safe water for drinking, as well as for hygiene and sanitation,children’s health will only worsen,” the statement read.

“The priority is to prevent the situation from deteriorating, by respondingto the needs of children and families in the worst affected areas,” saidAdele Khodr, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan.

“Children across the country already face numerous challenges and now theyhave to cope with this latest threat to their lives,” Khodr added.

The impact of the drought couldn’t come at a worse time, as cases of severeacute malnutrition – seasonal malnutrition – rise on average by about 25percent each year in the coming summer months. Some 1.6 million childrenand 443,000 pregnant and lactating women suffer from malnutrition acrossAfghanistan.

“Preventing malnutrition is already a priority in Afghanistan,” said Khodr.“We need to make sure that children and families get the access tonutritious food, safe water and health services that they need. The impactof malnutrition can last a lifetime, which is why it’s critical that weidentify and treat at risk children now,” Khodr added.

A drought emergency task force has been set up by government to coordinateand align the response across all sectors, including education, nutrition,water, sanitation and hygiene, food security and agriculture.

UNICEF and partners in the nutrition cluster estimate that emergencynutrition assistance is needed for 92,000 children and 8,500 pregnant andlactating women. UNICEF estimates also show that between July and December2018, some 121,000 acutely malnourished children under five and 33,000pregnant and lactating women could need life-saving nutrition services.

The UNICEF led water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) cluster has indicatedthat some 875,000 people could need assistance in the next three to sixmonths. UNICEF and partners are scaling up their operations to respond tothe emergency nutrition and WASH needs.

An estimated 100 families from the Bala Murghab district of Badghis havebeen forced to move to Herat to find alternative work due to failed crops,and to access safe drinking water. The situation is further complicated, asa result of escalating conflict that often occurs at this time of year,leading to increased displacement and reduced access for humanitarianworkers.

Among the affected provinces, Badghis, Bamyan, Daykundi, Ghor, Helmand,Kandahar, Jawzjan, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Takhar, and Uruzgan are ofcritical priority for nutrition and water, sanitation and hygieneassistance.

Thirteen provinces, out of a country total of 34 provinces, received lessthan 30 percent of their average annual precipitation in the period October2017 to end February 2018.

UNICEF Afghanistan is calling for an additional US$10 million to respond tothe needs of children and their families. This includes to: