Press releases

6 November 2018 – Many children traveling with the migrant caravan in Mexico are showing signs of anguish and psychosocial distress, according to UNICEF staff on the ground. In certain cases, children are expressing fears of violence or separation from their families, while other children are finding it difficult to engage in play and recreational activities organized by UNICEF. The children’s organization, together with its partners, is quickly scaling up its support for psychosocial interventions to reach these children in need.

6 November 2018 - “Intense fighting in the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah is now dangerously close to Al Thawra hospital - putting the lives of 59 children, including 25 in the intensive care unit, at imminent risk of death."

4 November 2019- Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, provided the following statement after his recent visit to Yemen during a press conference held in Amman.

RITA ORA, SIR CHRIS HOY, AND EMMA WILLIS LEAD THE WAY AS FAMOUS FACES CHANNEL TWISTED TALES FOR UNICEF UK’S SIXTH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN BALL

30 October 2018 – Living in a rich country does not guarantee equal access to quality education, according to Report Card 15 from UNICEF Office of Research-Innocenti. Children in less wealthy countries often perform better at school despite fewer national resources, the report says.

29th October 2018 - Amy Gibbs, Director of Advocacy at Unicef UK said: "Today’s Budget was a wasted opportunity by the Government to address the key issues impacting children’s rights to survive and thrive in the UK. Unfortunately, while it showed willing to focus on children’s needs with some funding for mental health and social care support, there are still significant shortfalls."

29 October 2018 – UNICEF has opened the first fully inclusive playground for children with disabilities in Jordan in Za’atari Refugee Camp as part of national efforts to make education inclusive for all children. The playground, which is one of the first of its kind in a refugee camp, has been designed and equipped for children with and without disabilities to play together.

26 October 2018 – An estimated 2,300 children traveling with the migrant caravan now in southern Mexico need protection and access to essential services like healthcare, clean water and adequate sanitation – UNICEF warned today. The long and arduous journey has left children exposed to inclement weather, including dangerously hot temperatures, with limited access to proper shelter. Some have already fallen ill or suffered from dehydration, according to UNICEF teams on the ground.

26 October 2018 – Almost a month after a deadly earthquake and tsunami struck Palu and the surrounding areas of the northwestern part of Sulawesi, Indonesia, an estimated 375,000 children remain in need of lifesaving supplies and services.

25 October 2018 – United Nations Member States today unanimously agreed to the Declaration of Astana, vowing to strengthen their primary health care systems as an essential step toward achieving universal health coverage. The Declaration of Astana reaffirms the historic 1978 Declaration of Alma-Ata, the first time world leaders committed to primary health care.

 5 October 2018: UNICEF and a team of social workers from the Ministry of Social Affairs have started the process of identifying separated and unaccompanied children. 

1 October 2018 – Three days after the earthquake that shook the island of Sulawesi and the devastating tsunami that swept through Palu City, UNICEF says the situation for tens of thousands of children remains extremely precarious in the days ahead. Children in Palu, Donggala and other affected sites in Sulawesi need urgent help to recover. Many have lost their loved ones, homes, neighbourhoods and all things familiar in their lives.

28 September 2018 – Recent survivors of the Ebola virus and UNICEF are partnering to help prevent further transmission of the deadly disease in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As part of this effort, the survivors share their stories during public events and through public radio in Ebola-affected communities.

20 September 2018 - Today, UNICEF releases findings of ground-breaking new research in collaboration with Arm, revealing that over 2 billion lives can be changed by investing in emerging cities across the world, while also generating up to $2 trillion in revenue by 2022.

14 September 2018 – With Super-Typhoon Mangkhut expected to make landfall in Northern Luzon on Saturday, at least 5 million Filipinos are facing threats strong winds, heavy rains, flooding, landslides, displacement and risk loss to life, home, livelihood and agriculture. Nearly half of them are children.

September 12, 2018 – A year after two category 5 hurricanes caused destruction across parts of the Caribbean, most children in the affected countries are now back in school and have access to the services they need, thanks to the efforts of UNICEF and partners.

7 September 2018 – A further escalation of fighting in Idlib, northwestern Syria, will put the lives of more than 1 million children at imminent risk, UNICEF said today. 

24 August 2018 – Statement from UNICEF's Executive Director, Henrietta H. Fore

19 August 2018 – "Today as we mark World Humanitarian Day, we pause to recognise the dedication and courage of our colleagues around the world, honour our colleagues who have lost their lives in the course of their work, and reavow our commitment to the many millions of children and young people in need of support and protection."

18 August 2018 – “I was saddened and heartbroken to learn of the passing of Kofi Annan. Father. Husband. Humanitarian. Elder. He was a lifelong servant of peace.”