Illnesses in children caused by polluted water and sanitation are reaching crisis levels in Iraq, according to reports by UNICEF UK.

Iraq’s social services are now at breaking point, with only 17 per cent of Iraq’s sewerage being treated before being discharged into the country’s rivers and waterways. Pools of sewage are spread across North and South Iraq, with enough in Baghdad alone to fill 370 Olympic swimming pools every single day.

UNICEF Special Representative for Iraq, Roger Wright, said -

‘Lack of hygiene and unsafe drinking water are priority concerns for Iraqi families. Far too many are stretching scarce household resources to find safe drinking water – which should be readily available to all.’

Young children are particularly suffering, with diseases and malnutrition keeping many out of school and undermining their growth capacity. The situation is likely to worsen, with possible outbreaks of cholera possible through poor sanitation.

UNICEF is now planning to tanker over 300 million litres of drinking water to distribute with hygiene kits to up to 120,000 families across Iraq.  This will allow other agencies to rehabilitate water and sanitation to 1.8 million people, whilst also promoting hygiene education to the Iraqi people to help safeguard their future.

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UNICEF UK’s short film, The Gift, is a dramatisation of a powerful poem by Simon Armitage and narrated by Gwyneth Paltrow. It draws attention to the unwanted gift of HIV that is passed from thousands of mothers every year to their babies.

UNICEF UK strives to care for children affected by  HIV/AIDS whilst campaigning for improved drug treatments for sufferers. The Unite for Children campaign was globally launched in 2005 to research the lives of infected children worldwide, and to help governments improve standards through policy changes.

> > click here to make a donation to UNICEF UK

> > click here to find out more about the work of UNICEF UK

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The Government’s commitment to help end child poverty with a £1 billion investment has been warmly welcomed by UNICEF UK. This huge sum will make a real difference to the lives of nearly quarter of a million children, proving that the Government are serious in theor pledge to eradicate child poverty in the UK.

Britain’s cash commitment will help improve the well-being of the most vulnerable children, but will not hit the crucial target of halving child poverty by 2010. This is still an encouraging and important step forward for the Government, but further action must be taken to keep in line with other wealthy EU countries.

Parliamentary Officer for UNICEF UK, Senay Camgoz,, said -

‘UNICEF UK believes that with nearly £1 billion in today’s budget the Government has shown its determination to keep its promise and invest in the 3.8 million children being held back by poverty in the UK. It is therefore encouraging to see that the Government is serious about lifting a further 250,000 children out of poverty. We will continue to work with the Campaign to End Child Poverty to increase the pressure on the Government to keep its promise.’

UNICEF UK is a donation based charity which helps children both at home and abroad to maintain a better standard of living. Their hard work can only operate thanks to your help.

> > click here to make a donation to UNICEF UK

> > click here to find out more about the work of UNICEF UK

"Please note, any prices mentioned in the donation4charity blog are correct at the time of posting. Please check the relevant website for the latest pricing information."