Press releases

Women and newborns bearing the brunt of the conflict in Gaza, UN agencies warn

East Jerusalem, 4 November 2023 - Women, children and newborns in Gaza are disproportionately bearing the burden of the escalation of hostilities in the occupied Palestinian territory, both as casualties and in reduced access to health services, warn the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

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Statement by UNICEF on the deaths and injuries of children in Jabaliya camp

“The scenes of carnage coming out of Jabaliya camp in the Gaza Strip following attacks yesterday and again today are horrific and appalling

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Cardiff becomes first city in the UK to achieve UNICEF Child Friendly City status

Today the United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) has announced Cardiff as the first UK city to be awarded UNICEF Child Friendly City status. Over the past five years UNICEF UK has been working with councils across the UK to implement the global UNICEF Child Friendly Cities & Communities programme by developing and putting in place strategies with local authorities and local leaders to advance children’s rights. Cardiff City, led by Cardiff Council and partners, is the first in the UK to achieve the prestigious and globally recognised UNICEF Child Friendly City award. 

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Joint statement by UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and WHO on humanitarian supplies crossing into Gaza

21 October 2023 - Joint statement by UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and WHO on humanitarian supplies crossing into Gaza

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First deliveries of life-saving supplies for children enter Gaza

21 October 2023 - First deliveries of life-saving supplies for children enter Gaza

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Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the deaths and injuries of children at Al Ahli Hospital

New York, 17 October 2023 – “I am horrified by the reported deaths and injuries of children and women following an attack on the Al Ahli Hospital in the Gaza Strip this evening. While details are still emerging and bodies are still being counted, the scenes on the ground are devastating.

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Time is running out for children in Gaza — UNICEF

NEW YORK, 13 October 2023 – Hundreds of thousands of children and their families have started fleeing northern Gaza today ahead of imminent larger-scale attacks. It follows days of bombardments of Gaza after the brutal attacks of 7 October.  Nearly a week into the war, hundreds of children have been reportedly killed, and thousands more reportedly injured.

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Gaza's Children Pay the Heaviest Price, with Hundreds Dead

GENEVA, 13 October 2023 – “Hundreds & hundreds of children have been killed and injured. Every hour in Gaza the number of children killed rises. The killing of children must stop.

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UNICEF launches US$ 20 million appeal to support 96,000 children affected by recent earthquakes in western Afghanistan

KABUL, 12 October 2023 – Over 90 per cent of those reported killed in Afghanistan’s recent earthquakes are women and children. In Zinda Jan district alone, over 11,500 people saw their homes completely flattened.

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UNICEF signs deal to deliver new malaria vaccine in breakthrough for child survival

NEW YORK/COPENHAGEN, 12 October – UNICEF today announced an agreement to secure supply of the world’s second malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M. The deal is a major milestone towards meeting the high demand for doses of new vaccines against malaria – a disease which still kills one child under five every minute.

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