Press releases

24 December 2021 – UNICEF together with the UN and humanitarian community appeal for US$ 107 million to help children and families bounce back from the impact of the catastrophic Super Typhoon Odette (international name Rai).

22 December 2021 – Children across Afghanistan are increasingly vulnerable to disease and illness due to the deadly combination of rising malnutrition, an unprecedented food crisis, drought, disruptions to vital health and nutrition centres, lack of access to and poor quality of water and sanitation services, and crippling winter weather.

21 December 2021 – After Typhoon Odette (international name Rai) brought widespread destruction to the Philippines on 16 December, the needs of children and families in affected areas are becoming clear.

16 December 2021 – Typhoon Odette (international name Rai) is expected to make landfall today in Surigao Provinces or the southern portion of Eastern Visasyas. Almost 16 million Filipinos are facing threats including strong winds, heavy rains, flooding, landslides, displacement and risk loss to life, home, livelihood and agriculture. Around 700,000 of them are vulnerable children.

The Government’s Ending Preventable Deaths Approach Paper has the potential to make a huge difference for children and families all over the world, averting millions of preventable deaths and creating stronger health systems and a healthier world for all.

10 December 2021 – UNICEF welcomes United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ announcement today that Catherine M. Russell will succeed Henrietta H. Fore as UNICEF Executive Director.

NEW YORK, 10 December 2021 – UNICEF plans to sell 1,000 data-driven non-fungible tokens (NFTs), the UN’s largest-ever NFT collection to date, the UN children’s agency said today ahead of commemorations of UNICEF’s 75th anniversary.

Thursday 9th December 2021 - UNICEF raises over £750,000 at Blue Moon Gala at Outernet, London for UNICEF 75th anniversary

9 December 2021 – COVID-19 has affected children at an unprecedented scale, making it the worst crisis for children UNICEF has seen in its 75-year history, the United Nations Children’s agency said in a report released today.

ITURI, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 8 December 2021 - Up to 75,000 displaced people – including 35,000 children - living in a remote and inaccessible hilltop camp for displaced people in the province of Ituri in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are braving “hellish conditions” without adequate food, shelter, protection, security and sanitation, UNICEF has warned.

KABUL/KATHMANDU/NEW YORK, 7 December 2021 – UNICEF launched its largest ever single-country appeal today to urgently respond to the humanitarian needs of over 24 million people in Afghanistan, half of whom are children. UNICEF’s appeal for US$2 billion will help to avert the imminent collapse of health, nutrition, WASH, education and other vital social services for children and families.

PANAMA CITY, 7 December 2021 – The number of children affected by migration in Latin America and the Caribbean is due to hit the 3.5-million-mark next year, UNICEF said today at the launch of its highest-ever humanitarian appeal for the region. This number, which includes children on the move as well as those living in host communities, represents a 47 percent increase compared to 2021.

"Malnutrition is responsible for nearly half of the deaths of children under five and the single largest cause of death among women. Policy commitments made by the UK Government at today’s Nutrition for Growth Summit will have a positive impact on children’s lives, but without additional funding to match, these commitments will not address the life-limiting consequences of malnutrition on the lives of those worst affected.

07 December 2021| "The discovery of the Omicron variant comes at a time when over 90 per cent of people in low-income countries have not received a single dose of the life-saving COVID-19 vaccines. Health workers and those at greatest risk remain perilously exposed to the virus and unable to protect themselves while the pandemic continues to destabilise essential health and education services for children.

NEW YORK, 3 December, 2021 – All around the world, the nearly 240 million children living with disabilities -- 1 in 10 children worldwide -- are being denied basic rights, UNICEF said ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

26 November 2021 – The latest shipwreck in the English Channel – where at least 27 people lost their lives - calls for swift and decisive collective action to protect the lives of migrants at sea.

24 November 2021 - Responding to the tragic news of loss of life due to a boat capsizing in the Channel today, Joanna Rea, Director of Advocacy at the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), said the following.

GENEVA, 23 November 2021 - West and Central Africa has recorded the highest number of children recruited and used by armed forces and armed groups. This amounts to more than 42,000 violations between 2005 and 2020. "Over this same period, the region also ranks first – and worst – when it comes to numbers of rape and other forms of sexual violence committed against children, with more than 8,000 violations.

DAKAR, 23 November 2021 – Since 2005, when a United Nations mechanism for monitoring and reporting on the six grave violations against children was established, West and Central Africa has been the region in the world with the highest number of children verified as recruited and used by armed forces and non-state armed groups and the highest number of children verified as victims of sexual violence.

AMMAN, 15 November 2021 – “Three children, a 14-year-old girl and two boys aged 15 and 17 were reportedly killed during violence around protests in Sudan’s capital Khartoum. The exact circumstances of their deaths are under verification.