Press releases
‘Shameful milestone’ in Yemen as 10,000 children killed or maimed since fighting began: Geneva Palais briefing note on the situation of children in Yemen
GENEVA, 19 October 2021 – “The Yemen conflict has just hit another shameful milestone: 10,000 children have been killed or maimed since fighting started in March 2015. That’s the equivalent of four children every day.
The safety and wellbeing of children at high risk in detention centres in Libya
12 October 2021 - UNICEF calls for immediate release of children in detention centres across Libya as safety and wellbeing of children is at high risk
Nearly 170 children expelled back to Haiti from US and Cuba in one day
PORT-AU-PRINCE, 10 October 2021, Nearly 170 Haitian children arrived in Port-au-Prince yesterday with their parents after being expelled from Cuba mainly and the U.S., according to UNICEF. Most of the children are from southwestern Haiti and left two to three weeks after the August earthquake in an attempt to reach the U.S.
2021 records highest ever number of migrant children crossing the Darien jungle towards the US – UNICEF
PANAMA CITY, 11 October 2021 - Almost 19,000 migrant children have journeyed through the Darien Gap so far this year, nearly three times more than the number registered over the five previous years combined. More than 1 in 5 migrants crossing the border between Colombia and Panama are children. Half of them is below the age of five.
UNICEF and BTS celebrate success of ‘groundbreaking’ LOVE MYSELF campaign
6 October 2021 - UNICEF, record label BIGHIT MUSIC, and the 21st century pop icons BTS are marking the groundbreaking success of the LOVE MYSELF campaign this week, with the campaign reaching almost every country in the world with positive messages of self-love and self-care.
Impact of COVID-19 on poor mental health in children and young people ‘tip of the iceberg’ – UNICEF
5 October 2021 – Children and young people could feel the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health and well-being for many years to come, UNICEF warned in its flagship report today.
Half of Afghanistan’s children under five expected to suffer from acute malnutrition as hunger takes root for millions
Kabul, 5 October 2021 –Wrapping up a two-day visit to Herat, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, Hervé Ludovic De Lys, and WFP Afghanistan Representative and Country Director, Mary-Ellen McGroarty, sounded the alarm on the dire state of malnutrition and food insecurity sweeping across the country.
Earthquake leaves nearly 70 per cent of schools damaged or destroyed in southwestern Haiti – UNICEF
PORT-AU-PRINCE, 4 October 2021 – Over a month after a devastating earthquake hit Haiti, about 70 per cent of all schools in the Southwestern part of the country are still either damaged or destroyed, UNICEF said.
UNICEF statement on Ethiopia
1 October 2021 – “The Ethiopian Government’s decision to expel the UNICEF representative in the country – along with other members of the UN leadership team – is regrettable and alarming.
UN agencies call for protection measures and a comprehensive regional approach for Haitians on the move
Geneva, 30 September 2021 - U.N agencies call on states to refrain from expelling Haitians without proper assessment of their individual protection needs, to uphold the fundamental human rights of Haitians on the move, and to offer protection mechanisms or other legal stay arrangements for more effective access to regular migration pathways.
UNICEF-WHO: COVAX ultar-low temperature freezers boost vaccine storage capacity to 9 million
DHAKA, 28 September 2021 – Twenty-six ultra-low temperature freezers delivered by UNICEF through COVAX in August are enabling Bangladesh to receive, store and distribute large quantities of COVID-19 vaccines that require ultra-cold storage.
Global leaders commit further support for global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and COVAX
London 23 September 2021 – Global leaders attending the Global COVID-19 Summit hosted by the United States have again underlined their commitment to ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries through COVAX – noting that equitable access is essential to end the acute stage of the pandemic.
Over 2 in 3 people expelled to Haiti from US border are women and children – UNICEF
NEW YORK/PORT-AU-PRINCE/MEXICO CITY, 23 September 2021 – According to UNICEF initial estimates, over 2 in 3 Haitian migrants who have been returned to Port-au-Prince are women and children. Some of them are newborn babies, with specific and immediate needs.
UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) statement on Covid19 Vaccine Summit
22 September 2021 - Joanna Rea, Director of Advocacy UNICEF UK says: "The commitments made at today’s summit are welcome progress in global collaboration towards ending the COVID-19 pandemic for everyone. We now quickly need these pledges to become reality with immediate action in the days and months ahead.
Young children’s diets show no improvement in last decade, ‘could get much worse’ under COVID-19 - UNICEF
NEW YORK, 22 September 2021 – Children under the age of 2 are not getting the food or nutrients they need to thrive and grow well, leading to irreversible developmental harm, according to a new report released by UNICEF today.
UNICEF Executive Director remarks at the virtual Ministerial-Event on safeguarding the achievements of 20 years of international engagement in Afghanistan
NEW YORK, 21 September 2021 - UNICEF Executive Director remarks at the virtual Ministerial-Event on safeguarding the achievements of 20 years of international engagement in Afghanistan
UNICEF welcomes reopening of secondary schools in Afghanistan, stresses that girls must not be left out
NEW YORK/KABUL, 17 September 2021 – UNICEF welcomes news that secondary schools in Afghanistan will be open tomorrow after closing down for months due to COVID-19.“We are deeply worried, however, that many girls may not be allowed back at this time.“Girls cannot, and must not, be left behind. It is critical that all girls, including older girls, are able to resume their education without any further delays. For that, we need female teachers to resume teaching.
Schoolchildren worldwide have lost 1.8 trillion hours and counting of in-person learning due to COVID-19 lockdowns, says UNICEF
17 September 2021 – Schoolchildren around the world have lost an estimated 1.8 trillion hours – and counting – of in-person learning since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.
Schools still closed for nearly 77 million students 18 months into pandemic – UNICEF
16 September 2021 – Eighteen months into the COVID-19 pandemic, schools for nearly 77 million students in six countries continue to be almost completely closed, according to an updated data analysis released today by UNICEF.
One month after Haiti earthquake: 260,000 children still need humanitarian assistance - UNICEF
PORT-AU-PRINCE / PANAMA CITY, 15 September 2021 – One month after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake jolted southwest Haiti, an estimated 650,000 people, including 260,000 children, still need urgent humanitarian assistance, UNICEF warned today.