Press releases

8 children killed and injured over past week as violence continues to spiral in Yemen

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.

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New UNICEF analysis finds just 34 per cent of national climate policies are child-sensitive

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.

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The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) comment on UK Government opening statement at COP 26

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.

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PADDINGTON AND UNICEF INVITE CHILDREN ON AN ADVENTURE THIS CHRISTMAS

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.

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Urgent action needed now to ensure sufficient COVID vaccine syringe supply to meet 2022 vaccination targets

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.

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At least 200 million schoolchildren live in countries that remain unprepared to deploy remote learning in future emergency school closures

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.

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For every 18 doses of COVID -19 vaccines delivered to G20 countries, only 1 dose has been delivered to Low Income Countries in Africa, UNICEF finds

For every 18 doses of Covid-19 vaccines delivered per person in G20 countries like the UK, only one dose has been delivered per person to low income countries in Africa** - according to research published today by the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK). 

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Haiti: Insecurity-triggered fuel shortage threatens newborns’ lives in hospitals

PORT-AU-PRINCE, 25 October 2021 – Hundreds of women and children who seek emergency care in health facilities are at risk of dying if solutions are not found to the fuel shortage prevailing in Haiti due to insecurity, UNICEF warned today.

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Alarming spike in abductions of women and children in Haiti - UNICEF

21 October 2021 – In Haiti, the number of children and women abducted for ransom in the first eight months of 2021 has already surpassed last year’s total, UNICEF warned today.

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9 in 10 children are worried about climate change, finds new report from VotesforSchools and UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) (clone)

Friday 22 October 2021 – A new report from VotesforSchools and the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) has found that children and young people across the UK are extremely concerned about the climate crisis.

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Four children killed on their way to school in northwest Syria

20 October 2021 – “Four children – three boys and one girl – and a teacher were confirmed killed while on their way to school this morning in an attack on a market in Ariha, south of Idlib, northwest of Syria. The numbers of children injured and killed continue to increase.

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‘Shameful milestone’ in Yemen as 10,000 children killed or maimed since fighting began: Geneva Palais briefing note on the situation of children in Yemen

GENEVA, 19 October 2021 – “The Yemen conflict has just hit another shameful milestone: 10,000 children have been killed or maimed since fighting started in March 2015. That’s the equivalent of four children every day.

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The safety and wellbeing of children at high risk in detention centres in Libya

12 October 2021 - UNICEF calls for immediate release of children in detention centres across Libya as safety and wellbeing of children is at high risk

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Nearly 170 children expelled back to Haiti from US and Cuba in one day

PORT-AU-PRINCE, 10 October 2021, Nearly 170 Haitian children arrived in Port-au-Prince yesterday with their parents after being expelled from Cuba mainly and the U.S., according to UNICEF. Most of the children are from southwestern Haiti and left two to three weeks after the August earthquake in an attempt to reach the U.S.

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2021 records highest ever number of migrant children crossing the Darien jungle towards the US – UNICEF

PANAMA CITY, 11 October 2021 - Almost 19,000 migrant children have journeyed through the Darien Gap so far this year, nearly three times more than the number registered over the five previous years combined. More than 1 in 5 migrants crossing the border between Colombia and Panama are children. Half of them is below the age of five.

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UNICEF and BTS celebrate success of ‘groundbreaking’ LOVE MYSELF campaign

6 October 2021 - UNICEF, record label BIGHIT MUSIC, and the 21st century pop icons BTS are marking the groundbreaking success of the LOVE MYSELF campaign this week, with the campaign reaching almost every country in the world with positive messages of self-love and self-care.

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Impact of COVID-19 on poor mental health in children and young people ‘tip of the iceberg’ – UNICEF

5 October 2021 – Children and young people could feel the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health and well-being for many years to come, UNICEF warned in its flagship report today.

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Half of Afghanistan’s children under five expected to suffer from acute malnutrition as hunger takes root for millions

Kabul, 5 October 2021 –Wrapping up a two-day visit to Herat, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, Hervé Ludovic De Lys, and WFP Afghanistan Representative and Country Director, Mary-Ellen McGroarty, sounded the alarm on the dire state of malnutrition and food insecurity sweeping across the country.

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Earthquake leaves nearly 70 per cent of schools damaged or destroyed in southwestern Haiti – UNICEF

PORT-AU-PRINCE, 4 October 2021 – Over a month after a devastating earthquake hit Haiti, about 70 per cent of all schools in the Southwestern part of the country are still either damaged or destroyed, UNICEF said.

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UNICEF statement on Ethiopia

1 October 2021 – “The Ethiopian Government’s decision to expel the UNICEF representative in the country – along with other members of the UN leadership team – is regrettable and alarming.

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