Martin Bell OBE
UNICEF UK Ambassador
“What gives me most pride is the service I have given to UNICEF over the years”
Martin Bell has been a UNICEF UK Ambassador since 2001. In his time with UNICEF, Martin has visited our programmes for children in 11 countries.
Martin is a former BBC war correspondent and independent MP. As a war correspondent, Martin has been able to visit UNICEF projects in high-risk conflict zones, and shed light on how UNICEF is there for children in the most difficult of circumstances.
In recent years, Martin has supported UNICEF by encouraging supporters to leave a legacy gift in their will. In 2020, Martin made a video for legacy supporters sharing his reflections during lockdown. Martin makes regular guest appearances at our annual Summer Garden Party event, held to thank our legacy supporters and inform them about the work UNICEF is doing.
Martin’s Support of UNICEF’s work in Emergencies
Martin has visited some of the most high-risk places where UNICEF operates. In 2011, Martin travelled to South Sudan on the eve of its independence to draw attention to the ongoing effects of the conflict on children.
In 2017, Martin travelled to Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley to see how Syrian children and families were rebuilding their lives after years of war and displacement, and what UNICEF was doing to help.
Martin has fronted emergency appeal direct response TV adverts, raising much needed funds for emergencies in Ukraine, Yemen and Afghanistan among others. He has also supported our work on education in emergencies and wrote a personal account of his experiences for The Guardian. Martin continues to attend and host events to promote the needs of children in emergencies around the world.
"Millions of Syrian children have known nothing but war, death and destruction their entire lives.
Families are taking extreme measures just to survive, often pushing children into early marriage and child labour."
Martin Bell, 2017
Martin’s UNICEF programme visits
Martin has visited our projects helping children in complex conflict zones across the world.
2017 – Lebanon – Martin visits Lebanon to visit displaced Syrians helped by UNICEF projects to mark the 6th Anniversary of the war in Syria
2011 – South Sudan – Martin is joined by Mia Farrow to visit South Sudan ahead of the country’s independence
2010 – Yemen – Martin visited Yemini capital Sana’a to report on the silent emergency in the country, where children face malnutrition, trafficking and PTSD.
2009 – Somalia – Martin reported on the humanitarian emergency in Somalia and how UNICEF was helping
2007 – Afghanistan – Reported on UNICEF-led vaccination programmes, Afghan street children, and women’s prisons in the country
2006 – Afghanistan – Martin visited UNICEF programmes in Afghanistan
2006 – DRC – Martin reported on UNICEF’s work from the DRC for the Telegraph and Newsnight
2005 – Sudan – Reported on humanitarian crisis in Darfur
2005 – Sri Lanka – Tsunami emergency with presenter David Bull
2004 – Sudan – Martin reported on the humanitarian disaster in Darfur with presenter David Bull
2003 – Iraq – Reported on reconstruction work at a school in Basra, and met some of the students at the school
2002 – Malawi – Martin visited UNICEF programmes addressing the food crisis in Malawi
2001 – Tajikistan – Martin visited the Afghan border with Tajikistan to explore the refugee situation.
