Problem

In the mountainous regions of the developing world, children routinely die from exposure to cold weather. Temperatures often plummet and remain far below freezing during the winter months, resulting in what many refer to as a cold weather "emergency.

The Gift

Your gift will provide blankets to protect 10 small children from the cold.

In some areas where UNICEF is active, 100 percent of children are chronically malnourished. Lacking proper nutrition and shelter from extreme climate conditions, they are especially susceptible to infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, which is the main cause of death in these cold circumstances.

If supplies are not transported to remote areas ahead of the winter months, it often becomes too late. Under heavy snowfall, roads become impassable and at-risk communities—mainly those located more than 3,500 meters above sea-level—become unreachable. Every year, hundreds of thousands of children around the world are in danger.
UNICEF routinely provides warm clothes, blankets, stoves, and antibiotics to children at risk. UNICEF also sponsors local workshops to teach mothers and health care workers to recognize symptoms of exposure related to cold weather.