Press releases
Four children reportedly killed and two children injured in two attacks in northern Syria
31 January 2021 - Statement by Bo Viktor Nylund, UNICEF Representative in Syria.
12 weeks into the conflict, ‘deeply troubling’ situation for children in Tigray
27 January 2021 – “The very little we know about the impact of the conflict on children in Tigray – from limited partner accounts and UN assessments – is deeply troubling."
Up to 90,000 children in central Mozambique urgently need humanitarian assistance in wake of Cyclone Eloise
26 January 2021 - Region’s children and families still recovering from devastation wrought by Cyclone Idai less than two years ago.
COVAX announces new agreement, plans for first deliveries
COVAX, the global initiative to ensure rapid and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries, regardless of income level, today announced the signing of an advance purchase agreement with Pfizer for up to 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine candidate, which has already received WHO Emergency Use Listing. Rollout will commence with the successful negotiation and execution of supply agreements.
Central African Republic: Surge in violence and displacement threatens thousands of children already affected by humanitarian crisis and COVID-19
22 January 2021 - UNICEF warns that armed conflict could lead to higher rates of malnutrition and violations of children’s rights .
UN agencies warn economic impact of COVID-19 and worsening inequalities will fuel malnutrition for billions in Asia and the Pacific
The economic impact of COVID-19 on the world’s most populous region is threatening to further undermine efforts to improve diets and nutrition of nearly two billion people in Asia and the Pacific who were already unable to afford healthy diets prior to the pandemic, says a new report published today by four specialized agencies of the United Nations.
UNICEF, WHO, IFRC and MSF announce the establishment of a global Ebola vaccine stockpile
The four leading international health and humanitarian organizations announced today the establishment of a global Ebola vaccine stockpile to ensure outbreak response.
Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore on attacks against villages in Niger
Such wanton violence and disregard for the lives of children and families must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. These heinous acts are grave violations of children’s rights and of international humanitarian and human rights law. UNICEF calls for the immediate cessation of attacks against children, their families and communities.
New Year’s Babies: Over 2,000 children will be born in the UK on New Year’s Day - UNICEF
An estimated 2,054 babies will be born in the UK on New Year’s Day, according to UNICEF.
UNICEF appoints the singer Yara Regional Ambassador
26 December 2020 - UNICEF appointed today the singer Yara Regional Ambassador for the Middle East and North Africa.
UNICEF launches the coronavirus vaccine market dashboard
21 December 2020 – As the designated COVAX procurement coordinator and procurement agent, UNICEF has launched the COVID-19 Vaccine Market Dashboard – an interactive tool for countries, partners and industry to follow the developments of the rapidly evolving COVID-19 vaccine market and the efforts of the COVAX Facility to ensure fair and equitable access for every country in the world.
UNICEF outlines plans to transport up to 850 tonnes of COVID-19 vaccines per month on behalf of COVAX, in ‘mammoth and historic’ logistics operation
18 December 2020 - UNICEF could potentially transport up to 850 tonnes of coronavirus vaccines per month in 2021, should such quantities become available, according to a new assessment. This is more than double the average weight of vaccines UNICEF transports every month.
UN agencies’ alarm at worsening hunger in South Sudan
18 December 2020 – Three United Nations organizations are calling for immediate humanitarian access to parts of South Sudan’s Pibor County in Jonglei State, where people have run out of food and are facing catastrophic levels of hunger according to a new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report released today.
Unicef UK statement on funding of UK food programmes
17 December 2020 - Unicef UK statement on funding of UK food programmes
Death threats and gang violence forcing more families to flee northern Central America – UNHCR and UNICEF survey
Death threats, gang recruitment, extortion and other forms of targeted violence are driving more families in northern Central America to flee their homes and seek safety in other countries, a new UNHCR and UNICEF survey reveals today.
UNICEF on standby to support Government of Fiji to reach families affected by Tropical Cyclone Yasa
17 December 2020 – UNICEF is on standby to support the Government of Fiji to respond to the urgent needs of families affected by Tropical Cyclone Yasa, a category five cyclone barreling down on Fiji tonight, expected to affect more than 850,000 Fijians.
Millions of children in Tigray remain out of reach, despite access agreement - UNICEF
15 DECEMBER 2020 – “Some 2.3 million children in Tigray, Ethiopia, remain cut off from humanitarian assistance amid continuing violence since the beginning of November.
Teachers should be prioritised for vaccination against COVID-19
UNICEF is calling for teachers to be prioritized to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, once frontline health personnel and high-risk populations are vaccinated. This will help protect teachers from the virus, allow them to teach in person, and ultimately keep schools open.
UNICEF Statement on school attack in north-western Nigeria
13 December 2020 - Statement by UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa Marie-Pierre Poirier on school attack in north-western Nigeria.