Students stand outside their temporary tent school setup by UNICEF, following a class in Mulombela village, Kasaï region, Democratic Republic of the Congo,

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UNICEF is on the ground before, during, and after emergencies, reaching children and families with lifesaving aid and long-term assistance. This experience provides the foundation for our humanitarian advocacy to the UK government, helping to ensure that British emergency aid is delivered rapidly and in the right ways to where it is needed most. Our current work highlights the critical importance of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for children in war zones. WASH has the potential not only to save lives, but also to support the ongoing health, education and safety of children caught up in protracted conflict.

Water Under Fire Advocacy Alert

Every child has the right to water and sanitation. And yet globally, in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, 420 million children lack basic sanitation and 210 million children lack access to safe drinking water. UNICEF launched the Water Under Fire campaign in March 2019  and this concise report provides case studies that highlight how Unicef partners are successfully addressing this complex issue, meeting critical needs and saving lives.

Water Under Fire Volume 1

UNICEF’s Water Under Fire campaign draws global attention to areas where changes are urgently needed to secure access to safe and sustainable water and sanitation in fragile contexts. This first volume in the campaign’s three-report series is dedicated to the humanitarian–development–peace nexus.

Latest Humanitarian Blogs

Water and sanitation are life savers for children in war zones

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Inclusive learning: How WASH in schools empowers girls’ education

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