![On 26 November, Hussein Marge, 3-and-a-half years old, plays with a toy by railway tracks in a temporary camp near town of Idomeni, close to the border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Hussein and his family, who are from Lebanon’s capital Beirut, are hoping to cross into the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – where the Government has begun restricting the flow of refugees and migrants on the move, and is allowing only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans to continue their journey. About 1,300 refugees protested the Government’s decision to deny entry to people not from those three countries. Refugees and migrants flows into Europe are at an unprecedented high. By end November, over 870,000 refugees and migrants had arrived by sea in Europe since the beginning of the year. More than one in five refugees and migrants reaching Europe is a child, and children make up an estimated one-quarter of the 730,000 sea arrivals in Greece and of flows heading towards Western and Northern Europe through the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia so far this year. The main nationalities of refugees and migrants include Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis. Recent restrictions imposed by governments at several border crossings in the Balkans is creating additional hardships and challenges for refugee and migrants, including leaving some stranded at various crossing points, creating tensions and protests at border crossings, or forcing others to take further risks by taking dangerous smuggling routes to reach safety. UNICEF, together with partners UNHCR and IOM, is supporting child-friendly spaces in reception centres at border crossings along the Balkan routes, mobilizing for winter and working with governments to strengthen child protection systems for all children, including refugee and migrant children. UNICEF is also monitoring and providing assistance with partners at these points, and is providing blankets, winter clothing and other key items to meet basic needs. Unicef/2015/Gilbertson VII](https://www.unicef.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/childrens-emergency-fund-refugee-train-toy.jpg)
![On 26 November, Hussein Marge, 3-and-a-half years old, plays with a toy by railway tracks in a temporary camp near town of Idomeni, close to the border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Hussein and his family, who are from Lebanon’s capital Beirut, are hoping to cross into the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – where the Government has begun restricting the flow of refugees and migrants on the move, and is allowing only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans to continue their journey. About 1,300 refugees protested the Government’s decision to deny entry to people not from those three countries. Refugees and migrants flows into Europe are at an unprecedented high. By end November, over 870,000 refugees and migrants had arrived by sea in Europe since the beginning of the year. More than one in five refugees and migrants reaching Europe is a child, and children make up an estimated one-quarter of the 730,000 sea arrivals in Greece and of flows heading towards Western and Northern Europe through the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia so far this year. The main nationalities of refugees and migrants include Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis. Recent restrictions imposed by governments at several border crossings in the Balkans is creating additional hardships and challenges for refugee and migrants, including leaving some stranded at various crossing points, creating tensions and protests at border crossings, or forcing others to take further risks by taking dangerous smuggling routes to reach safety. UNICEF, together with partners UNHCR and IOM, is supporting child-friendly spaces in reception centres at border crossings along the Balkan routes, mobilizing for winter and working with governments to strengthen child protection systems for all children, including refugee and migrant children. UNICEF is also monitoring and providing assistance with partners at these points, and is providing blankets, winter clothing and other key items to meet basic needs. Unicef/2015/Gilbertson VII](https://www.unicef.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/childrens-emergency-fund-refugee-train-toy.jpg)
Donate and help protect
Children in emergencies
One Goal for Children
535 million children live in countries affected by emergencies – that’s one in every four children in the world today.
From conflict in Syria, to famine in South Sudan and hurricanes in Haiti, humanitarian crises are threatening the lives and futures of more children today than at perhaps any other time in history.
In 2016, the One Goal for Children initiative was launched with Rangers and Unicef teaming up to keep children safe. Thanks to partners like the Rangers Charity Foundation, Unicef was able to respond to hundreds of emergencies in 2016, many of which did not make the headlines here in the UK. Now, we are giving fans a chance to show their support
On 13 May 2017 Unicef will be the charity partner for Rangers vs Hearts. There will be bucket collections on the day as well as other activities to raise awareness of the plight of all children who find themselves caught up in crises. There’s never been a more challenging time for children. But by donating today, you can help us reach more children – especially where there’s little media attention but the need for help is just as great.
Please donate today and help keep children safe when a disaster strikes. Thank you.
Your gift will go directly to our Children’s Emergency Fund to save and protect children in emergencies around the world.