Press releases
Saving children stranded on the Mediterranean must be prioritised over politics
Statement attributable to Ms. Afshan Khan, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia and Special Coordinator for the Refugee and Migrant response in Europe
Number of children orphaned or left unaccompanied by Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo rising fast: UNICEF
13 August 2019- The number of children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who have been orphaned or left unaccompanied due to the Ebola epidemic has more than doubled since April.
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: a far-fetched dream for millions of girls, boys and youth in the Middle East and North Africa
Unless governments prioritise peace and stability and invest boldly in what matters most for children and the untapped potential of youth, the MENA region will fail to reach the Sustainable Development Goals
Holly Willoughby has interview “like never before” with child refugee, Bodoor
London, 2nd August, 2019 – Holly Willoughby was left “inspired” after an interview “like never before” with 17-year-old, Bodoor, who told her about her experiences as a child refugee living in Jordan.
Why family-friendly policies are critical to increasing breastfeeding rates worldwide - UNICEF
1 August 2019 – From supporting healthy brain development in babies and young children, protecting infants against infection, decreasing the risk of obesity and disease, reducing healthcare costs, and protecting nursing mothers against ovarian cancer and breast cancer, the benefits of breastfeeding for children and mothers are widespread. Yet, policies that support breastfeeding – such as paid parental leave and breastfeeding breaks – are not yet available to most mothers worldwide.
Ebola outbreak: Joint statement from UNICEF, WHO, UN, and WFP
Joint statement from UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock, and World Food Programme Executive Director David Beasley.
Geneva Palais briefing note on the impact of the Ebola outbreak on children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
A summary of what was said by Jerome Pfaffmann, UNICEF Senior Health Specialist – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the Palais des Nations press briefing in Geneva.
“No child should be buried in their school uniform”
29 July 2019 - Statement by Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Representative in Sudan
UNICEF breaks ground on Africa’s first-of-its-kind recycled plastic brick factory in Côte d'Ivoire
29 July 2019 – UNICEF, in partnership with Colombian social enterprise Conceptos Plasticos, today announced it had broken ground on a first-of-its-kind factory that will convert plastic waste collected in Côte d'Ivoire into modular plastic bricks. The easy-to-assemble, durable, low-cost bricks will be used to build much needed classrooms in the West African country.
UNICEF ramps up Ebola prevention efforts as South Sudan assessed as ‘high-risk’ country
29 July 2019 — Crucial information on how to protect oneself from contracting Ebola saves lives. Since January 2019, UNICEF and its partners have engaged more than 3 million people in South Sudan with Ebola prevention messages, the UN children’s agency said today.
32 children released from opposition groups in South Sudan
24 July 2019 — Yesterday, 32 children were released from armed opposition groups in Leer county, in northern South Sudan.
Nearly 9 million of the Most Vulnerable in Yemen Benefit from Unconditional Cash Assistance
24 July 2019 – Nearly 9 million people across Yemen have been reached with emergency cash assistance in the fifth payment cycle by UNICEF to help meet their urgent needs as the conflict in the country enters its fifth year.
Partnerships and innovation help UNICEF deliver results for children in 150 countries
24 July 2019 - In 2018, UNICEF procured US$3.486 billion worth of goods and services to help children in 150 countries live better lives around the world.
‘Transformative shift’ in support for families of young children urgently needed worldwide - UNICEF
19 July 2019 – Businesses and governments urgently need to invest in families to reduce poverty and lay the foundation for children’s healthy development and adults’ success at work, UNICEF said today in a new policy brief outlining the latest evidence and new recommendations on family-friendly policies.
Monsoon rains bring severe flooding and landslides across South Asia, affecting more than five million children
18 July 2019 – Heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides across three countries in South Asia – Nepal, India, and Bangladesh – have killed at least 93 children, and put the lives of millions more at risk.
Unwanted, exploited and abused: tens of thousands of children in Al-Hol camp and several parts of Syria in limbo amid dire humanitarian needs
17 July 2019 - At least 70,000 people live in Al-Hol Camp, northeast of Syria. UNICEF estimates that more than 90 per cent of them are children and women. These children are highly vulnerable, they are survivors of heavy fighting and have witnessed unimaginable atrocities.
Unicef UK welcomes Environment Secretary’s pledge to tackle toxic air
16 July 2019- In a speech at Kew Gardens today, the Environment Secretary Michael Gove announced new measures to tackle toxic air. Unicef UK responds:
UNICEF - the impact of the Ebola outbreak on children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Update from Ebola- affected areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo