More than 420,000 children in the Amazon are enduring extreme drought conditions, leading to water scarcity, food insecurity and increased health risks, according to UNICEF.
In short:
- Record drought, exacerbated by the El Niño climate phenomenon, has affected Indigenous communities in Brazil, Colombia and Peru, causing widespread water and food shortages.
- Schools and clinics in the Amazon have closed due to dried-up rivers, limiting children's access to education and healthcare.
- UNICEF is appealing for $10 million to deliver emergency aid, including water and healthcare services, for the affected regions.
Key quote:
“We are witnessing the devastation of an essential ecosystem that families rely on, leaving many children without access to adequate food, water, health care and schools.”
— Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director
Why this matters:
The Amazon basin's ecosystem supports millions and is crucial to global environmental stability. Drought in this region highlights how climate change and extreme weather events threaten the health and well-being of vulnerable communities, especially children, underscoring the need for sustained international climate action.
Read more: Drought crisis in the Amazon sparks urgent responses
