Press releases

Child poverty is expected to remain above pre-pandemic levels for at least five years in high-income countries according to a new report by UNICEF. Only 2 per cent of government-provided financial relief across OECD and EU countries was allocated specifically to support children and families raising children during the first wave of the coronavirus. 

8 December 2020 – A new report from Unicef UK finds that the UK youth justice system is failing children.

8 December 2020 - UNICEF calls on governments to prioritize the reopening of schools.

4th December 2020 - Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore on occasion of UN General Assembly Special Session on COVID-19.

3 December 2020 – The window to prevent famine in Yemen is narrowing as new figures reveal record highs of acute food insecurity in the country, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF warned today.

3 December 2020 – UNICEF today issued its largest ever emergency funding appeal for US$6.4 billion (£4.7 billion GBP) to reach 300 million people, including more than 190 million children, with essential support and services through the end of 2021.

2 December 2020 – “11 children were reportedly killed in the past three days in Yemen in two separate attacks. Verification is still ongoing, and the actual number of casualties may be higher. The attacks took place in the village of Ad Durayhimi in Al Hudaydah governorate and in Tai’z in the south west, where there are active frontlines."

1 December 2020 – Two thirds of the world’s school-age children – or 1.3 billion children aged 3 to 17 years old – do not have internet connection in their homes, according to a new joint report from UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

30th November 2020 - Joint statement from Unicef UK and Unicef France.

27th November 2020 - Statement from Lucinda Rivers, Head of UNICEF Scotland.

“It’s deeply disappointing to learn today that the Government is seeking to introduce legislation which will cut the foreign aid budget with no clear plan on when the 0.7% promise will resume.

25 November 2020 - “UNICEF urges parties to the conflict in Ethiopia to spare children from the impact of hostilities in the Tigray region, now in their third week.

25th November 2020 - Statement from Unicef UK’s Director of Advocacy, Joanna Rea, on the Government’s Spending Review announcement that 0.7% ODA will be temporarily reduced to 0.5%.

24 November 2020 – Unicef UK announces new round of grants to support children and families at risk of food insecurity during the coronavirus pandemic.

23 November 2020 - Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore

UNICEF is working with major global airlines and freight providers to step up efforts to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to over 92 countries around the world as soon as vaccines become available.

20 November 2020 - This is a summary of what was said by Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Representative in Sudan – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

UNICEF and partners reached out to around 7,000 households in seven countries, covering nearly 13,000 children. According to the surveys, almost all families stated that their children were negatively impacted by the pandemic.

19th November 2020 - Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore