Press releases
UN agencies call for protection measures and a comprehensive regional approach for Haitians on the move
Geneva, 30 September 2021 - U.N agencies call on states to refrain from expelling Haitians without proper assessment of their individual protection needs, to uphold the fundamental human rights of Haitians on the move, and to offer protection mechanisms or other legal stay arrangements for more effective access to regular migration pathways.
UNICEF-WHO: COVAX ultar-low temperature freezers boost vaccine storage capacity to 9 million
DHAKA, 28 September 2021 – Twenty-six ultra-low temperature freezers delivered by UNICEF through COVAX in August are enabling Bangladesh to receive, store and distribute large quantities of COVID-19 vaccines that require ultra-cold storage.
Global leaders commit further support for global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and COVAX
London 23 September 2021 – Global leaders attending the Global COVID-19 Summit hosted by the United States have again underlined their commitment to ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries through COVAX – noting that equitable access is essential to end the acute stage of the pandemic.
Over 2 in 3 people expelled to Haiti from US border are women and children – UNICEF
NEW YORK/PORT-AU-PRINCE/MEXICO CITY, 23 September 2021 – According to UNICEF initial estimates, over 2 in 3 Haitian migrants who have been returned to Port-au-Prince are women and children. Some of them are newborn babies, with specific and immediate needs.
UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) statement on Covid19 Vaccine Summit
22 September 2021 - Joanna Rea, Director of Advocacy UNICEF UK says: "The commitments made at today’s summit are welcome progress in global collaboration towards ending the COVID-19 pandemic for everyone. We now quickly need these pledges to become reality with immediate action in the days and months ahead.
Young children’s diets show no improvement in last decade, ‘could get much worse’ under COVID-19 - UNICEF
NEW YORK, 22 September 2021 – Children under the age of 2 are not getting the food or nutrients they need to thrive and grow well, leading to irreversible developmental harm, according to a new report released by UNICEF today.
UNICEF Executive Director remarks at the virtual Ministerial-Event on safeguarding the achievements of 20 years of international engagement in Afghanistan
NEW YORK, 21 September 2021 - UNICEF Executive Director remarks at the virtual Ministerial-Event on safeguarding the achievements of 20 years of international engagement in Afghanistan
UNICEF welcomes reopening of secondary schools in Afghanistan, stresses that girls must not be left out
NEW YORK/KABUL, 17 September 2021 – UNICEF welcomes news that secondary schools in Afghanistan will be open tomorrow after closing down for months due to COVID-19.“We are deeply worried, however, that many girls may not be allowed back at this time.“Girls cannot, and must not, be left behind. It is critical that all girls, including older girls, are able to resume their education without any further delays. For that, we need female teachers to resume teaching.
Schoolchildren worldwide have lost 1.8 trillion hours and counting of in-person learning due to COVID-19 lockdowns, says UNICEF
17 September 2021 – Schoolchildren around the world have lost an estimated 1.8 trillion hours – and counting – of in-person learning since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.
Schools still closed for nearly 77 million students 18 months into pandemic – UNICEF
16 September 2021 – Eighteen months into the COVID-19 pandemic, schools for nearly 77 million students in six countries continue to be almost completely closed, according to an updated data analysis released today by UNICEF.
One month after Haiti earthquake: 260,000 children still need humanitarian assistance - UNICEF
PORT-AU-PRINCE / PANAMA CITY, 15 September 2021 – One month after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake jolted southwest Haiti, an estimated 650,000 people, including 260,000 children, still need urgent humanitarian assistance, UNICEF warned today.
Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore at the High-level Ministerial Meeting on the Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan
GENEVA, 13 September 2021 - “Children in Afghanistan have long suffered disproportionately from the humanitarian, security, social and economic crises that have plagued the country for decades. Their suffering is far from over and they need our help."
Over 300 schools forced to close in Niger due to insecurity, affecting more than 22,000 children
NIAMEY (Niger), 9 September 2021 – To mark the 5th Anniversary of the Safe Schools Declaration, on 28th May 2020 the UN General Assembly designated 9th September International Day to Protect Education from Attack. In Niger, UNICEF took this opportunity to call for greater attention and mobilization on the situation of children deprived from education due to insecurity while conflicts in affected regions become more brutal, intense and widespread over the past months.
Repeated school closures due to COVID-19 leading to learning loss and widening inequities in South Asia, UNICEF research shows
9 September 2021 – School closures have led to alarming inequities in learning opportunities for children in South Asia, despite significant efforts by governments and partners to expand remote learning, according to UNICEF research conducted in India, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore on unaccompanied and separated children evacuated from Afghanistan
NEW YORK, 7 September 2021 – “Since 14 August, hundreds of children have been separated from their families amidst chaotic conditions, including large-scale evacuations, in and around the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. Some of these children were evacuated on flights to Germany, Qatar and other countries.
SOCCER AID FOR UNICEF ON ITV RAISES RECORD £13 MILLION FOR CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD
4th September 2021 - Soccer Aid for UNICEF on ITV raises record £13 million for children around the world
Afghanistan ‘a child protection crisis in a country already one of the worst places on earth to be a child’
Those least responsible for this crisis, are paying the highest price -- including the children killed and injured in a series of atrocities in Kabul since last Thursday.
We cannot abandon the children of Afghanistan in their time of need
29 August 2021 - Statement by UNICEF Regional Director, George Laryea-Adjei, upon his return from Kabul
UNICEF condemns Kabul airport attack
KABUL, 27 August 2021 – “UNICEF strongly condemns the attacks at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Thursday, which reportedly killed at least 60 people and injured over 120, including women and children.
Alarming increase in children killed and injured by explosive devices in Iraq
UNICEF is deeply concerned after the reported deaths of a 10-year-old child on 24 August in Diyala by the detonation of an explosive remnant of war (ERW) and of an 11-year-old child on 25 August in Muradiya Village, South of Baquba, due to an Improvised Explosive Device (IED.)