Children’s well-being affected by floods and heat spikes in DRC, says UNICEF

Several cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have experienced flooding problems and heat peaks. These situations have affected children and had an impact on their well-being, indicates this Wednesday, November 20, UNICEF in a press release published on the occasion of World Children’s Day.

The UN agency notes that the environment is a major issue for the future of children. The creation of a constructive dialogue between the two generations, adults, today’s decision-makers, and children, future decision-makers, will make it possible to give a voice to children and young people as actors in the fight against climate change.

Several activities were organized on the sidelines of the celebration of World Children’s Day in the DRC, says UNICEF. These include:

• the organization of children’s round tables around their perspectives on the Congo of tomorrow in the face of climate issues,
• immersion days for children in certain private companies present in the DRC with a view to encouraging vocations among children and allowing them to plan for their professional future,
• “Child Take over” where children take control and management of a few businesses for a day.

“A difficult future awaits children in 2050 in a world transformed by extreme climate crises, demographic movements and technological disparities,” warns UNICEF in its new flagship report published this same Wednesday on the occasion of World Children’s Day and entitled The situation of the world’s children: the future in a changing world.
The future of childhood could be turned upside down unless urgent action is taken to preserve children’s rights in a changing world.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, this year’s theme will be “child actors in the fight against climate change and environmental degradation”.

This UNICEF report examines how three megatrends will affect children’s lives by the 2050s and beyond. These megatrends – demographic change, the climate and environmental crisis and cutting-edge technologies – provide key insights into the challenges and opportunities facing children in tomorrow’s world.