Press releases
At least 19 million children at imminent risk as Cyclone Amphan makes landfall in Bangladesh and India
20 May 2020 – At least 19 million children in parts of Bangladesh and India are at imminent risk from flash flooding, storm surges and heavy rain as Cyclone Amphan makes landfall today, UNICEF has warned.
Decline in vaccination rates in DRC, Statement by Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson at the Palais des Nations in Geneva
15 May 2020 - Decline in vaccination rates in DRC, Statement by Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson at the Palais des Nations in Geneva
PALAIS BRIEFING NOTE on UNICEF’s COVID19 response in Cox’s Bazar – 15 May 2020
15 May 2020 - This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF spokesperson Marixie Mercado – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
JOINT STATEMENT ON LIBYA
13 May 2020 - Conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic present a significant threat to life in Libya. The health and safety of the country’s entire population are at risk.
Coronavirus could increase child deaths by 6,000 a day, UNICEF warns
13 MAY 2020 – An additional 6,000 children around the world could die every day from preventable causes over the next six months as the Coronavirus pandemic weakens health systems and disrupts routine services, UNICEF said today as it launches the biggest ever appeal for children in its 73 year history.
Lifesaving services must be maintained for pregnant mothers and babies born during coronavirus pandemic -UNICEF
07 May 2020 - With 116 million births expected in the 9 months following the declaration of the coronavirus pandemic, UNICEF warns of impact of strain on health systems and medical supply chains. Maternity services in the UK under “considerable strain”, warns charity
85 children are released from prison in South Sudan
7 May 2020 – 85 juveniles are released from detention in South Sudan to decongest prisons as a COVID-19 prevention measure, UNICEF said today.
Statement in response to the Food Foundation report on family food insecurity ...
The Government must urgently adopt a more coordinated approach to address this food crisis and resolve the increasing challenges facing children during the pandemic.
Despite Coronavirus pandemic, routine vaccination of children continues across the Middle East and North Africa
April 2020 – Despite the Coronavirus outbreak, most countries in the Middle East and North Africa continue with routine immunization for children while applying strict precautionary health measures.
UNICEF Palais Briefing Note – UNICEF calls for support to unlock massive backlog in vaccine shipments
1st May – UNICEF is calling for support to unlock a massive backlog in vaccine shipments due to unprecedented logistical constraints related to COVID-19 mitigation measures including lockdowns in some countries.
Statement from Sacha Deshmukh, Executive Director of Unicef UK
29 April 2020 - Responding to today’s news that the UK government have pledged further funding to GAVI, the vaccine alliance, to protect up to 75 million children against deadly diseases.
Futures of 370 million children in jeopardy as school closures deprive them of school meals – UNICEF and WFP
29 April 2020 – As the Coronavirus crisis pushes up levels of hunger among the global poor, the World Food Programme and UNICEF are urging national governments to prevent devastating nutrition and health consequences for the 370 million children missing out on school meals amid school closures.
Coronavirus and flooding put five million children at risk of Cholera in Yemen
29 April 2020 – Over five million children under the age of five in Yemen are facing a heightened threat of cholera and Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) as the country continues to experience increased heavy rains since mid-April.
Over 13 million children globally did not receive vaccines – even before Coronavirus disrupted immunisation – UNICEF
25 April 2020 - Mass measles immunisation campaigns suspended in 25 countries due to pandemic UK sees dramatic fall in measles vaccination rates, now ranking third worst among high income countries
Thousands of Pacific Island children at risk in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Harold
24 April 2020 – Thousands of children living in the Pacific Islands remain in urgent need in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Harold, a category five cyclone that tore through Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga causing widespread destruction to homes, schools, medical clinics, as well as damaging food crops and water supplies.
Global Report on Food Crises reveals scope of food crises as COVID-19 poses new risks to vulnerable countries
21 April 2020 – Today an international alliance of UN, governmental, and nongovernmental agencies working to address the root causes of extreme hunger have released a new edition of their annual Global Report on Food Crises.
As Coronavirus pandemic continues, forcibly displaced children need more support than ever
20 April 2020 – “Millions of children around the world have been driven from their homes and across borders by conflict, violence and other forms of harm – including 12.7 million refugees and 1.1 million asylum seekers.
Between a rock and a hard place: COVID-19 doubles the burden for millions of children in the Middle East and North Africa Region
20 April 2020 – The Coronavirus outbreak continues to spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa region with over 105,419 cases and 5,699 associated deaths.