Press releases

JUBA, 12 June 2025 – The population in two counties in South Sudan are at-risk of famine in the coming months, as conflict in Upper Nile state escalates, destroying homes, disrupting livelihoods, and impeding the delivery of humanitarian aid.

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 11 June 2025 – Nearly 138 million children were engaged in child labour in 2024, including around 54 million in hazardous work likely to jeopardize their health, safety, or development, according to new estimates released today by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF.

UNICEF UK Responds to Comprehensive Spending Review

Returning to a neonatal care unit for the first time since her own daughter was born prematurely, Oti reflected: “Seeing the work and meeting mums like Ouattara brought everything home.”

New analysis from the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) exposes the stark impact of deprivation on babies and young children’s life chances across England. It reveals that where a child is born and raised up to the age of five can influence their future potential.

Friday June 6:  TV, radio and podcast host Sam Thompson has crossed his ‘Match Ball Mission’ finish line at Old Trafford raising £1,516,433.22 and counting for UNICEF as he completed the ultimate test of endurance, successfully transporting the Soccer Aid for UNICEF match ball more than 260 miles from last year’s stadium, Stamford Bridge in London, to the home of this year’s match, Old Trafford in Manchester. 

Thursday June 5: There was a surprise in store for TV, radio and podcast host Sam Thompson today as he took a speedboat across the River Mersey joined by his I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! campmate Tony Bellew, before reaching the penultimate finish line of his gruelling five day challenge - which has hit a record fundraising milestone of £1,169,922.42 and counting for UNICEF. 

Wednesday June 4: Day three of TV, radio and podcast host Sam Thompson’s Match Ball Mission for Soccer Aid for UNICEF challenge saw him continue to battle a painful calf injury as he passed the half-way mark – raising £604,280.82 and counting!

Tuesday 3rd June: TV, radio and podcast host Sam Thompson battled through torrential downpours and a painful calf strain today, completing 72 miles of his Match Ball Mission for Soccer Aid for UNICEF - raising a total of £198,922.66 and counting!

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF condemn an attack on a joint humanitarian convoy near Al Koma, North Darfur, last night. Five members of the convoy were killed, and several more people were injured. Multiple trucks were burned, and critical humanitarian supplies were damaged.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.