Press releases

KABUL/KATHMANDU/NEW YORK, 7 December 2021 – UNICEF launched its largest ever single-country appeal today to urgently respond to the humanitarian needs of over 24 million people in Afghanistan, half of whom are children. UNICEF’s appeal for US$2 billion will help to avert the imminent collapse of health, nutrition, WASH, education and other vital social services for children and families.

PANAMA CITY, 7 December 2021 – The number of children affected by migration in Latin America and the Caribbean is due to hit the 3.5-million-mark next year, UNICEF said today at the launch of its highest-ever humanitarian appeal for the region. This number, which includes children on the move as well as those living in host communities, represents a 47 percent increase compared to 2021.

"Malnutrition is responsible for nearly half of the deaths of children under five and the single largest cause of death among women. Policy commitments made by the UK Government at today’s Nutrition for Growth Summit will have a positive impact on children’s lives, but without additional funding to match, these commitments will not address the life-limiting consequences of malnutrition on the lives of those worst affected.

07 December 2021| "The discovery of the Omicron variant comes at a time when over 90 per cent of people in low-income countries have not received a single dose of the life-saving COVID-19 vaccines. Health workers and those at greatest risk remain perilously exposed to the virus and unable to protect themselves while the pandemic continues to destabilise essential health and education services for children.

NEW YORK, 3 December, 2021 – All around the world, the nearly 240 million children living with disabilities -- 1 in 10 children worldwide -- are being denied basic rights, UNICEF said ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

26 November 2021 – The latest shipwreck in the English Channel – where at least 27 people lost their lives - calls for swift and decisive collective action to protect the lives of migrants at sea.

24 November 2021 - Responding to the tragic news of loss of life due to a boat capsizing in the Channel today, Joanna Rea, Director of Advocacy at the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), said the following.

GENEVA, 23 November 2021 - West and Central Africa has recorded the highest number of children recruited and used by armed forces and armed groups. This amounts to more than 42,000 violations between 2005 and 2020. "Over this same period, the region also ranks first – and worst – when it comes to numbers of rape and other forms of sexual violence committed against children, with more than 8,000 violations.

DAKAR, 23 November 2021 – Since 2005, when a United Nations mechanism for monitoring and reporting on the six grave violations against children was established, West and Central Africa has been the region in the world with the highest number of children verified as recruited and used by armed forces and non-state armed groups and the highest number of children verified as victims of sexual violence.

AMMAN, 15 November 2021 – “Three children, a 14-year-old girl and two boys aged 15 and 17 were reportedly killed during violence around protests in Sudan’s capital Khartoum. The exact circumstances of their deaths are under verification.

14 Nov, "COP26 was a chance for world leaders to recognise the climate crisis as a child rights crisis and agree ambitious and concrete action to tackle climate change. “For the one billion children around the world already affected by the climate crisis, the outcomes of the Summit have fallen short of the urgent action needed to protect them today. Many of them will feel their futures remain at risk.

12 November 2021 – “We have received credible reports of families offering daughters as young as 20 days old up for future marriage in return for a dowry. Even before the latest political instability, UNICEF’s partners registered 183 child marriages and 10 cases of selling of children over 2018 and 2019 in Herat and Baghdis provinces alone."

10 November 2021 – The number of children with disabilities globally is estimated at almost 240 million, according to a new UNICEF report. Children with disabilities are disadvantaged compared to children without disabilities on most measures of child well-being, the report says.

NIAMEY, 9 November 2021 – "UNICEF is profoundly saddened by the loss of life in a tragic fire that ravaged a primary school in the town of Maradi, Niger.

3 November 2021 – At least 8 children have reportedly been killed or injured in escalating violence in Yemen in the past five days, UNICEF said today, as the conflict continues to take a deadly toll on children and families.

UNICEF released a new analysis today that reveals that two thirds of countries’ climate plans don’t address the needs and priorities of children. We examined the Nationally Determined Contributions – or NDCs – that were updated ahead of COP26, where I am now. These documents are submitted by the countries which had signed the Paris Agreement, and outline the actions they commit to take to meet its goals.

Glasgow, 01 November 2021, The climate crisis is a child rights crisis and we urge world leaders to put children at the heart of ambitious global action. Today UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that if COP26 fails, children not yet born would judge sternly those gathered in Glasgow.

28 October 2021 - With the festive season fast approaching, the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) is offering buyers a suite of charitable, Paddington themed gifts for little ones. These unique educational gifts will help UNICEF in supporting vulnerable children around the world and help bring a smile to their faces this Christmas.

NEW YORK, 27 OCTOBER 2021 – “Without action now, the world could face a serious shortage of COVID vaccine syringes by the end of 2022, with potentially dire consequences for the global effort to bring the pandemic under control.

28 October 2021 - According to a new report, among the 31 countries unprepared for remote learning, almost half kept their schools closed for at least half of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving 102 million students without any form of education.