Press releases
SAM THOMPSON COMPLETES ‘BRUTAL’ FIRST LEG OF EPIC UNICEF CHALLENGE!
Monday 2nd June: TV, radio and podcast host Sam Thompson has successfully made it over the finish line on day one of his mammoth ‘Match Ball Mission’ for Soccer Aid for UNICEF – raising £100,603.46 so far.
KICK OFF! - Sam Thompson kicks off mammoth 260-mile endurance challenge for UNICEF
Monday 2nd June, 8:30: TV, radio and podcast host Sam Thompson set off on the toughest challenge of his life this morning: to take the Soccer Aid for UNICEF match ball more than 260 exhausting miles from last year’s stadium, Stamford Bridge in London, to the home of this year’s charity match, Old Trafford in Manchester, all to raise vital funds to support UNICEF’s work for children around the world.
Over 130,000 additional children out of school in DR Congo’s Ituri province as violence escalates and aid shrinks
BUNIA, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 29 May 2025 – Intensifying conflict, inter-community fighting, and resulting displacement are depriving hundreds of thousands of children in Ituri province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), from obtaining an education, UNICEF warned today.
UNICEF UK STATEMENT ON TWO CHILD LIMIT
The Government must immediately remove the two-child limit and end the benefit cap to lift thousands of children out of poverty. Our research has shown children and families across the country are really struggling with parents borrowing money, skipping meals, children going without the essentials they need and starting school already behind their peers. Many are growing up in stressed and stretched households. Those most in need of support and protection continue to bear the brunt of difficult economic decisions.
Olympic legend Sir Mo Farah preps Sam Thompson for epic endurance challenge in ‘Match Ball Mission’ for Soccer Aid for UNICEF
TV, radio and podcast host Sam Thompson has teamed up with Olympic gold medallist and Soccer Aid for UNICEF stalwart Sir Mo Farah ahead of his ‘Match Ball Mission’ for Soccer Aid for UNICEF.
Children’s wellbeing in world’s wealthiest countries took sharp turn for the worse in wake of COVID-19 pandemic
LONDON/FLORENCE, 14 May 2025 – Children in many of the world’s wealthiest countries saw marked declines in their academic performance, mental wellbeing, and physical health in the period since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to analysis published today by UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight. UK joint second to last for teenage life satisfaction
Sam Thompson to take on mammoth 260-mile endurance challenge in ‘Match Ball Mission’ for Soccer Aid for UNICEF
From Monday 2nd June, TV, radio and podcast host Sam Thompson will embark on the most grueling mission of his life: to transport the Soccer Aid for UNICEF match ball more than 260 miles from last year’s stadium, Stamford Bridge in London, and deliver it to the home of this year’s match, Old Trafford in Manchester, all to raise vital funds to support UNICEF’s work for children around the world.
Risk of famine for children across Gaza, new report says
ROME/NEW YORK, 12 May 2025 – Populations across the Gaza Strip are at risk of famine as fighting has surged again, border crossings are still closed, and food is dangerously scarce. Hunger and malnutrition have intensified sharply since all aid was blocked from entering on 2 March, reversing the clear humanitarian gains seen during the ceasefire earlier this year.
Lifesaving humanitarian supply route cut in South Sudan leaving malnourished children at risk
JUBA, 8 May 2025 - More than 60,000 malnourished children in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state are at risk of plunging deeper into malnutrition as treatment supplies run critically low and resupply efforts are hampered, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF warned today.
THE CLIPPER RACE AND UNICEF MARK A DECADE OF PARTNERSHIP, TO CHAMPION A BETTER WORLD FOR CHILDREN
06 May 2025 – Today, the leading child rights organisation, UNICEF, was announced as a Team and Charity Partner of the Clipper Race once again. The announcement came ahead of the 2025-26 race season, and marks a decade of commitment from the global yacht race to advancing child rights globally.
Statement from UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the situation for children in the Gaza Strip after two months of aid blockade
NEW YORK, 2 May 2025 - “For two months, children in the Gaza Strip have faced relentless bombardments while being deprived of essential goods, services and lifesaving care. With each passing day of the aid blockade, they face the growing risk of starvation, illness and death – nothing can justify this.
Civilians trapped, children at risk, amid escalating violence in Darfur
KYIV, 24 April 2025 – “The latest in a series of attacks across Ukraine has reportedly killed three children and injured six more in the capital, Kyiv.PORT SUDAN, 1 MAY 2025- “As fighting intensifies in Darfur, children are bearing the brunt of a deepening humanitarian catastrophe. In the past three weeks, thousands of children and families have been forced to flee their homes - many for the second or third time – in search of an elusive sense of safety.
Horrific strikes reportedly kill three children and injure at least six others in Kyiv
KYIV, 24 April 2025 – “The latest in a series of attacks across Ukraine has reportedly killed three children and injured six more in the capital, Kyiv.
Increases in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks threaten years of progress, warn WHO, UNICEF, Gavi
GENEVA/NEW YORK, 24 April 2025 – Immunization efforts are under growing threat as misinformation, population growth, humanitarian crises, and funding cuts jeopardize progress and leave millions of children, adolescents, and adults at risk, warn WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi during World Immunization Week, 24-30 April.
At least one million children facing emergency levels of food insecurity in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE/ NEW YORK, 17 APRIL 2025 – Over one million children are facing critical levels of food insecurity in Haiti, UNICEF estimates. Persistent armed violence, repeated displacement, and lack of sufficient humanitarian access continue to threaten vulnerable families – while the risk of famine looms.
David Beckham launches fundraising appeal for UNICEF for his 50th birthday
UNICEF—helping to shine a light on the challenges facing children today. That’s why, for my 50th birthday, I’m launching a special fundraiser to help UNICEF to continue to deliver life-saving aid and support to children around the world.” – David Beckham
Number of children in need of humanitarian assistance in Sudan doubles as conflict enters third year amid ‘perfect storm’ of threats to children
PORT SUDAN/AMMAN/NEW YORK, 15 April 2025 – As the conflict in Sudan enters its third year, the number of children in need of humanitarian assistance has doubled, from 7.8 million at the start of 2023 to more than 15 million today.
At least 23 children and 9 aid workers reportedly killed in Al Fasher, Abu Shouk and Zamzam camps in North Darfur, Sudan
12 April 2025 – “Dozens of civilians, including at least 23 children, and several aid workers have reportedly been killed in North Darfur over the past few days.