Press releases
Star-studded Soccer Aid for UNICEF Gala, presented by EA Sports FC, raises £1,050,000
LONDON, 21 May 2026 - Sporting royalty and stars of the stage and screen came together on Thursday night for the Soccer Aid for UNICEF Gala, presented by EA SPORTS FC, at Nobu Hotel in London.
STATEMENT: UNICEF scaling up efforts to protect and support children and families following Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda
NEW YORK/KAMPALA/KINSHASA, 18 May 2026 – “UNICEF is deeply concerned by confirmed Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, and the growing risk to children and vulnerable communities across the region – a situation the World Health Organization has now declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: Olly Murs completes brutal 400km endurance challenge and raises an incredible £832,257 so far, for Soccer Aid for UNICEF
LONDON, Friday 15 May – Today, multi-platinum singer and Heart presenter, Olly Murs, completed the toughest challenge of his life as he crossed the finish line at London Stadium having cycled, rowed and run a gruelling 400km from Old Trafford in an epic Soccer Aid for UNICEF challenge.
Risk of famine persists as nearly 19.5 million people face acute food insecurity in Sudan
NEW YORK/PORT SUDAN, 15 May 2026 - The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF warned today that nearly 19.5 million people – two out of every five people in Sudan - are currently facing crisis levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) across Sudan, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis.
PENULTIMATE DAY OUT OF THE WAY: Olly Murs says he'll “never forget” birthday spent completing day of brutal endurance challenge for Soccer Aid for UNICEF
LONDON, Thursday 14 May – Today, multi-platinum singer and Heart presenter, Olly Murs, completed his toughest birthday yet as he continued the challenge of a lifetime taking on a gruelling 400km for Soccer Aid for UNICEF, raising over £600,000.
DAY THREE DONE AND DUSTED: Olly Murs says he’s putting his “body on the line” as he completes day three of brutal challenge for Soccer Aid for UNICEF
LONDON, Wednesday 13 May – Tonight, multi-platinum singer and Heart presenter, Olly Murs, completed day three of the toughest challenge of his life as he takes on a gruelling 400km Soccer Aid for UNICEF challenge which has raised over £260,000 so far.
Soccer Aid for UNICEF brings together parliamentarians and stars to champion children as UK aid reaches critical crossroads
LONDON, 13 May 2026 – UNICEF UK tonight welcomed government ministers, members of parliament and peers from the House of Lords to a special parliamentary reception at Portcullis House, Westminster, to celebrate 20 years of Soccer Aid for UNICEF and the extraordinary difference UK aid has made to children’s lives around the world.
At least 59 children reportedly killed or injured in Lebanon in the past week despite ceasefire – UNICEF
AMMAN/BEIRUT, 13 May 2026 – Children in Lebanon continue to be at the sharp end of ongoing violence, displacement and exposure to traumatic events. In the past seven days alone, despite an agreed ceasefire on 17 April 2026, at least 59 children have reportedly been killed or injured.
DAY TWO TICKED OFF: Emotional Olly Murs breaks down as he completes day two of brutal Soccer Aid for UNICEF challenge
LONDON, Tuesday 12 May – Today, multi-platinum singer and Heart presenter, Olly Murs, completed day two of the toughest challenge of his life as he takes on a gruelling 400km Soccer Aid for UNICEF challenge, raising over £152,000 already.
A demolition of homes, of schools and of childhood
GENEVA, 12 May 2026 – “Children are paying an intolerable price for escalating militarised operations and settler attacks across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Economic inequality harming children’s wellbeing in world’s wealthiest countries - UNICEF
FLORENCE/LONDON, Tuesday 12 May 2026 – Economic inequality in wealthy countries is linked to worse health and poorer academic outcomes for children, according to analysis published today by UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Strategy and Evidence.
DAY ONE DONE: Olly Murs completes day one of brutal 400km endurance challenge for Soccer Aid for UNICEF
LONDON, Monday 11 May – Today, multi-platinum singer and Heart presenter, Olly Murs, has completed day one of the toughest five of his life as he takes on a gruelling 400km Soccer Aid for UNICEF challenge.
Olly Murs kicks off brutal 400km endurance challenge as he heads Into The Unknown for Soccer Aid for UNICEF
LONDON, Monday 11 May – Today, multi-platinum singer and Heart presenter, Olly Murs, has set off on the toughest challenge of his life as he takes on a gruelling 400km Soccer Aid for UNICEF challenge in Olly Murs: Into The Unknown.
Tom Hiddleston sees UNICEF’s vital work supporting Ukrainian refugee children in Moldova
LONDON, 7 May 2026 –UNICEF UK Ambassador Tom Hiddleston has travelled to Moldova to see first hand how UNICEF is supporting Ukrainian refugee children and families who have fled the war.
UNICEF calls for the protection of children, schools and health facilities following deadly attacks in Mali
DAKAR/NEW YORK, 1 May 2026 – “The recent attacks in Bamako, Mopti, Gao, Kati and Kidal that started on 25 April 2026 have shown, yet again, that it is children who are paying the highest price of ongoing violence in Mali.
Migration systems and policies must uphold the rights of children
NEW YORK, 1 May 2026 – “As countries convene for the International Migration Review Forum, the world faces a global turning point in how migration systems affect children. Globally, new laws, enforcement practices, and bilateral arrangements are rapidly changing.
Hunger intensifies in South Sudan as 7.8 million people face high acute food insecurity and 2.2 million children suffer acute malnutrition
ROME/NEW YORK, 28 April 2026 – The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF today warned that a deepening hunger crisis in South Sudan is pushing 7.8 million people into high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between April and July 2026, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis.
Restrictions on girls’ education and women’s employment in Afghanistan could lead to a loss of over 25,000 female teachers and health workers by 2030 - UNICEF
KABUL/FLORENCE/NEW YORK, 28 April 2026 – Afghanistan risks losing up to 20,000 women teachers and 5,400 healthcare workers by 2030 as restrictions on girls’ education and women’s employment continue, according to a new UNICEF analysis.
Olly Murs heads Into The Unknown in brutal 400km endurance challenge for Soccer Aid for UNICEF
LONDON, 28 April 2026 – From Monday 11 May, multi-platinum singer and Heart presenter, Olly Murs, will step away from the mic, into his sport kit, and out of his comfort zone as he takes on a gruelling 400km Soccer Aid for UNICEF challenge.
Twenty years after global outcry, children in Darfur face a deeper crisis and far less attention
PORT SUDAN/NEW YORK/GENEVA, 28 April 2026 – Twenty years after Darfur captured global attention as violence devastated communities and displaced millions in Sudan, children in the region are again trapped in a catastrophic crisis – but with less international focus and aid, UNICEF warned in a new Child Alert released today.