Geneva : The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday launched its 2019 donation appeal, calling for an extra $3.9 billion to support its programs around the world.

The aid would be for 41 million children, over 80 percent of whom are believed to be living in conflict zones without protection, UNICEF said in its appeal.

It said that in Yemen alone, 6.6 million children were in need of aid, pointing out that a further four million children in the Democratic Republic of Congo and 5.5 million in Syria were suffering the mental and physical consequences of conflict. Data published last December revealed that half of all Syrian children have grown up only knowing war.

“If children don’t have a safe place to play, if they’re not reunited with their families, if they’re not given psychological help, the invisible scars of war will never heal,” Executive Director Henriette Fore said, stressing that the impact of UNICEF’s programs could not be underestimated.

UNICEF is a United Nations organization with a presence in 59 countries. Children in conflict zones needed access to drinking water, food, medical attention, education and shelter, UNICEF said in its appeal.

—AB/UNA-OIC