Press Releases

Schools still closed for nearly 77 million students 18 months into pandemic – UNICEF

Publication date: September 16, 2021

UNICEF and partners’ digital channels to close down for 18 hours to mark 18 months of school closures and send one message to the world: Reopen schools as soon as possible

Little Lova Renee, known last year for her awareness messages on COVID-19, is currently preparing new messages for a new awareness campaign on COVID-19 with UNICEF in Madagascar

One month after Haiti earthquake: 260,000 children still need humanitarian assistance - UNICEF

Publication date: September 15, 2021

One month after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake jolted southwest Haiti, an estimated 650,000 people, including 260,000 children, still need urgent humanitarian assistance, UNICEF warned today.

On 17 August 2021, patients of Ofatma Hospital in Les Cayes, Haiti and their families wait for medical attention in a UNICEF-supplied tent in the hospital's courtyard. UNICEF installed the tents to shelter patients who feared the hospital building could collapse.

Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore at the High-level Ministerial Meeting on the Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan

Publication date: September 13, 2021

Children in Afghanistan have long suffered disproportionately from the humanitarian, security, social and economic crises that have plagued the country for decades. Their suffering is far from over and they need our help.

At Shahrak-Sabz IDP settlement in Herat city, UNICEF and its partner continue to provide recreational activities and psychosocial support through fixed and mobile Child-Friendly Spaces (CFSs)

Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore on unaccompanied and separated children evacuated from Afghanistan

Publication date: September 7, 2021

Since 14 August, hundreds of children have been separated from their families amidst chaotic conditions, including large-scale evacuations, in and around the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. Some of these children were evacuated on flights to Germany, Qatar and other countries.

two-year-old Fatima, waits her turn for health and nutrition screening at Bab-e-Bargh health centre where UNICEF-supported immunization, health, nutrition and ante/post-natal care continue to be provided in Herat city’s largest health clinic.

Haiti earthquake: UNICEF seeks US$122.2 million to bring humanitarian aid to 1.6 million people

Publication date: September 7, 2021

Emergency funding appeal nearly tripled to reach people affected by the earthquake and violence in Haiti

A young child stands in front of his school destroyed during the 2021 earthquake in Haiti.Notre Dame du Perpétuel Secours de Latibolière School destroyed following the earthquake that affected the South of Haiti on 14th August 2021.

Afghanistan ‘a child protection crisis in a country already one of the worst places on earth to be a child’

Publication date: August 31, 2021

This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Afghanistan Representative, Hervé Ludovic De Lys – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Group of children who left their hometown and are now in an IDP camp in Kandahar

UNICEF condemns Kabul airport attack

Publication date: August 27, 2021

Statement by UNICEF Afghanistan Representative Hervé Ludovic De Lys on the attack at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Thursday

First day of school 'indefinitely postponed' for 140 million first-time students around the world – UNICEF

Publication date: August 24, 2021

At least eight million of these young learners have been waiting for over a year.

"The first day of school is a landmark moment in a child's life—setting them off on a life-changing path of personal learning and growth. Most of us can remember countless minor details—what clothes we wore, our teacher's name, who we sat next to. But for millions of children, that important day has been indefinitely postponed," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.

Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore on children in Afghanistan

Publication date: August 23, 2021

Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore

Amidst Kabul airport blockage, WHO and UNICEF call for assistance to deliver critical health supplies to Afghanistan