Press releases
UN agencies warn that acute food insecurity and nutrition crisis are surging in the Central Sahel
20 October 2020 – Three UN agencies are calling for greater stabilization efforts and assistance to the most vulnerable in Burkina Faso, Mali and the Niger.
BRIEFING NOTE ON THE CENTRAL SAHEL
The multiple crises converging in the Central Sahel, including a surge in armed violence and the socio-economic fallout from COVID-19, is worsening conditions for children in one of the world’s poorest, least-developed regions.
Unicef UK confirms launch of independent review
Unicef UK statement on 8 October 2020
UN agencies launch “Learning is Back”, a song on return to learning in the Middle East and North Africa
8 October 2020 - UN Agencies*[1] in the region unveiled today “Rej’et El Sineh” [‘Learning is Back’], a song to encourage the return to learning for all children and youth across the region.
One stillbirth occurs every 16 seconds, according to first ever joint UN estimates
8 October 2020– Almost 2 million babies are stillborn every year – or 1 every 16 seconds – according to the first ever joint stillbirth* estimates released by UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank Group and the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Only 1 in 3 countries have re-opened school in West and Central Africa
7 October 2020 – UNICEF calls on Ministries of Education and Finance today to prioritize education in their coronavirus recovery plans to reduce the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis on children and national economies.
Unrelenting violence continues to impact children in Ituri, eastern DRC
6 October 2020 – UNICEF continues to be deeply concerned about thousands of children at risk amid unrelenting violence in Ituri, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
UNICEF calls for the resumption of salary payments for schoolteachers in Yemen
5 October, 2020 – This World Teachers’ Day, UNICEF, together with the Global Partnership for Education, Education Cannot Wait and UNESCO, is calling for the resumption of salary payments for around half of the Yemeni teachers and school-based staff (estimated 160,000) who have not received regular salary payments since 2016.
UNICEF statement on allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
UNICEF is appalled that people who identify as UNICEF workers have reportedly committed abuse against vulnerable women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Statement by Henrietta H. Fore, UNICEF Executive Director at the high-level side event on the ACT-Accelerator at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly September 30, 2020
We’re working with WHO and local partners to help prepare governments to receive and deliver a COVID-19 vaccine.
Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore on 30th anniversary of World Summit for Children
29 September 2020 – “The 30th anniversary of the first ever World Summit for Children is an opportunity to celebrate the huge gains of the past three decades but also a stark reminder of how Coronavirus could turn back the clock.
Conflict, climate crisis and coronavirus pose great threats to the health of women and children
Fragile gains made to advance women and children’s health are threatened by conflict, the climate crisis and COVID-19, according to a new report from Every Woman Every Child.
Statement from Unicef UK Board
UNICEF UK STATEMENT ON 24th SEPTEMBER 2020 The Board of Trustees of Unicef UK regrets to announce that Douglas Alexander has decided to resign as Chair with immediate effect. The…
As classrooms for half the world’s schoolchildren remain closed, UNICEF and EU urge countries to prioritise schools in re-opening plans
23 September 2020 – “As schools remain closed for half the world’s students due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we are issuing an S.O.S. message urging countries to prioritise schools in their re-opening plans.
Coronavirus pandemic: Countries urged to take stronger action to stop spread of harmful information
23 September 2020 – The World Health Organization (WHO) together with the UN, specialised agencies and partners today called on countries to develop and implement action plans to promote the timely dissemination of science-based information and prevent the spread of false information while respecting freedom of expression.
Resignation of Unicef UK Executive Director Sacha Deshmukh
Statement by Unicef UK on 23rd September 2020
UNICEF calls for schools to open in Eastern & Southern Africa
Tuesday, 22 September 2020 - UNICEF has called on governments, parents and teachers across Eastern and Southern Africa to urgently and safely re-open schools, as the costs of continued school closures escalate across Eastern and Southern Africa.
WHO and UNICEF recommit to accelerating health and well-being at all ages
19 September 2020 – The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have signed a new collaborative framework which will accelerate joint public health efforts that put the most marginalized and vulnerable populations first.