Press Releases

UNICEF calls on de facto authorities to allow girls to return to secondary school in Afghanistan immediately

Publication date: March 21, 2023

Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the start of the new school year in Afghanistan

UNICEF calls on de facto authorities to allow girls to return to secondary school in Afghanistan immediately

In wake of Cyclone Freddy, amid disruption to critical services, cholera surges in Mozambique

Publication date: March 20, 2023

One week after Cyclone Freddy made landfall for a second time in Mozambique, creating severe disruption to critical services, the threat of cholera is growing rapidly for children and families.

March 13, 2023. A group of children walks through a flooded street after Cyclone Freddy passes through Quelimane on March 11.

A triple threat of water-related crises is endangering the lives of 190 million children - UNICEF

Publication date: March 20, 2023

As world leaders prepare to attend the historic UN Water Conference, UNICEF calls for urgent investment in climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services to protect children

Children gathering water in the village of Naaba Guegma, in the Northern region of Burkina Faso.

Children at risk of cholera in aftermath of Cyclone Freddy - UNICEF

Publication date: March 19, 2023

Millions of children are at risk in the face of a potential increase in cholera cases in Malawi and Mozambique in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which has ravaged both countries for the second time in less than a month.

Classroom, Feeding Shelters, Kitchen, Teachers Houses, Toilets and Headteachers Office at Chingoli Primary School in Mulanje District, surbmerged in the waters of Thuchila river due to cyclone Freddy.

10 million children in extreme jeopardy in central Sahel as insecurity seeps into neighbouring countries – UNICEF

Publication date: March 17, 2023

Ten million children in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are in dire need of humanitarian assistance – twice as many as in 2020 – largely due to spiralling conflict, while nearly 4 million children are at risk in neighbouring countries as hostilities between armed groups and national security forces spill across borders, according to a UNICEF child alert issued today.

Amina 17 from Dafur dreams of an education.

UNICEF warns of looming child nutrition crisis in Syria amid 12 years of conflict and deadly earthquakes

Publication date: March 15, 2023

Twelve years of conflict, and the recent deadly earthquakes, have left millions of children in Syria at heightened risk of malnutrition, UNICEF warned today.

On 10 February 2023, Sondos, two years and eight months, in her father’s arms, is screened for malnutrition by a UNICEF-supported mobile health team worker, using a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tape, in the Alsalheen neighbourhood, Aleppo city, north Syria.

Top Nova Scotia Chefs announced for Halifax’s 31st annual Chefs for UNICEF Water for Life Gala

Publication date: March 9, 2023

Tickets on sale now!

A young girl pumps safe water for drinking in Rajasthan, India.

WHO and UNICEF launch cholera vaccination campaign in northwest Syria amidst earthquake response

Publication date: March 8, 2023

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in coordination with health authorities, the Syria Immunization Group (SIG), and the Global Alliance for Vaccines (GAVI), kicked off a cholera vaccination campaign in earthquake-hit areas of northwest Syria.

This aerial photograph shows tents at a temporary shelter for people affected by the earthquakes.

Malnutrition in mothers soars by 25 per cent in crisis-hit countries, putting women and newborn babies at risk – UNICEF

Publication date: March 7, 2023

With half of stunting in children under 2 developing during pregnancy and before six months, new report raises the alarm on the need to invest in essential nutrition programmes for adolescent girls and women

Kokobe Ashebir, 20, has a two month old baby. She's attending a routine check-up with Workitu Abera, a health worker at Kolabe Bale Health Post in Sire, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.

One month on, more than 850,000 children remain displaced by deadly earthquakes in southern Türkiye and Syria

Publication date: March 6, 2023

One month on from the two catastrophic earthquakes that struck southern Türkiye and Syria, more than 850,000 children remain displaced after being forced from their damaged or destroyed homes.