Press releases
Six months on, Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo is now second largest in history - UNICEF
30 January 2019 – Since the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was declared six months ago on 1st August 2018, more than 740 people – 30 per cent of whom are children – have been infected with the disease, including over 460 who have died, and 258 that have survived Ebola. Alongside the Government and partners, UNICEF is scaling up its response to assist victims, control the spread of the disease and ultimately end the deadly outbreak.
UNICEF appeals for £3.06 billion in emergency assistance for 41 million children affected by conflict or disaster
29 January 2019 – Millions of children living in countries affected by conflict and disaster lack access to vital child protection services, putting their safety, well-being and futures at risk, UNICEF warned today as it appealed for £3.06 billion to support its work for children in humanitarian crises.
UNICEF Statement on the situation in Venezuela
25 January 2019 - “UNICEF regrets and condemns the reported loss of lives, including the deaths of teenagers, during recent demonstrations in Venezuela, and expresses its condolences to their families.
More than 145,000 Rohingya refugee children return to school in Bangladesh refugee camps as new school year starts
24 January 2019 – More than 145,000 Rohingya refugee children living in camps in south-east Bangladesh are now attending UNICEF-supported learning centres, as a new school year begins.
UNICEF Statement on the impact of the ongoing turmoil and economic crisis on children in Sudan
23 January 2019 – “Children were reportedly killed in ongoing turmoil that broke out last month in Sudan. According to reports, scores of children were also injured while others were detained.
Young people to Davos leaders: more jobs, better education
21 January 2019 – Thousands of young people have a simple message to the leaders gathered at the World Economic Forum: “We need more jobs and better education.”
Vital protection for refugee and migrant children making perilous sea journeys to Europe urgently needed – UNICEF
21 January 2019 –UNICEF is urging European governments to agree on a region-wide approach to better protect refugee and migrant children who continue to face grave dangers and violations of their basic rights during dangerous sea journeys and on arrival to Europe.
UNICEF and partners providing urgent relief to protect nearly 40,000 children at risk from the ongoing winter storms in Lebanon
17 January 2019 – The impact of the latest storms across Lebanon have left many vulnerable children in need of protection and warmth, especially refugee children.
Lack of access to medical care in Syria is putting children’s lives at risk
15 January 2019 – “Freezing temperatures and harsh living conditions in Rukban, at the southwestern border of Syria with Jordan, are increasingly putting children’s lives at risk. In just one month, at least eight children - most of them under four months and the youngest only one hour old - have died.
Government publishes Clean Air Strategy – UNICEF UK responds
Monday 14th January - Today, a new Clean Air Strategy has been published by Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove. The strategy sets out the UK Government's ambition to become a leader in reducing human exposure to toxic air.
Millie Bobby Brown visits UNICEF global supply hub in Denmark
11 January 2018 – UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and Emmy-nominated actress Millie Bobby Brown helped pack supplies for some of the world’s most vulnerable children during a visit to UNICEF’s global supply headquarters in Copenhagen this week.
Syria: Lives of Children at Risk Amid Heavy Fighting and Floods in Northwest Syria
3 January 2019 – Children continue to pay the heaviest price due to the escalation in violence in northwest Syria. UNICEF received alarming reports of 80 people killed, including one child.
New Year’s Babies: Over 2100 children will be born in the UK on New Year’s Day - UNICEF
1 January 2019: An estimated 2135 babies will be born in the United Kingdom on New Year’s Day, UNICEF said today
World has failed to protect children in conflict in 2018
28 December 2018 – The futures of millions of children living in countries affected by armed conflict are at risk, as warring parties continue to commit grave violations against children, and world leaders fail to hold perpetrators accountable – UNICEF said today.
UNICEF UK PAYS TRIBUTE TO LORD PADDY ASHDOWN - FORMER PRESIDENT AND AMBASSADOR
Unicef UK pays tribute to its former President and Ambassador, Lord Paddy Ashdown, who has died at the age of 77.
UK White Paper on Immigration is a missed opportunity to help refugee and migrant children
Alastair Harper, Unicef UK, responds to the White Paper on Immigration published today
Child given world’s first drone-delivered vaccine in Vanuatu - UNICEF
18 December 2018 –One month old Joy Nowai, today became the world’s first child to be given a vaccine delivered commercially by drone in a remote island in the South Pacific country of Vanuatu.
Orlando Bloom meets children working in Bangladesh slums in powerful photography series
18 December 2018 – UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom stars in Netflix series Tales by Light to highlight the plight of children living and working in slums in Bangladesh.
Yemen peace talks and Hudaydah ceasefire signal hope for country’s children
13 December 2018 – “Today millions of children across Yemen saw their dreams of peace inch closer to reality with the close of promising negotiations between the warring parties and an agreed ceasefire in the port city of Hudaydah.
15,000 children without parents or missing, five years after outbreak of fighting in South Sudan
13 December 2018 – Fifteen thousand children remain separated from their families or missing, five years after conflict first broke out in South Sudan.