Press Releases

One in five children globally does not have enough water to meet their everyday needs – UNICEF

Publication date: March 18, 2021

UNICEF launches new initiative, Water Security for All, to mobilize global support and resources to reach children in water vulnerable hotspots

On 26 January 2020, Christine, 7, collects water from a recently rehabilitated water point in Gwembe Valley, Zambia. Severe and prolonged drought in the region have contributed to depleted water points, crop failure, food insecurity and malnutrition, impacting the health of mothers and children. To date, under the Zambian Government's drought response plan, UNICEF has supported the rehabilitation of a dozen existing boreholes in Gwembe District. In total, UNICEF will drill 100 new boreholes and rehabilitate

Syria conflict 10 years on: 90 per cent of children need support as violence, economic crisis and COVID-19 pandemic push families to the brink – UNICEF

Publication date: March 10, 2021

Almost 12,000 children killed or injured in the past decade, according to verified data – an average of more than three children a day

On 19 January 2021, families stand outside of tents in a flooded area of Kafr Losin Camp in northwest Syrian Arab Republic.

10 million additional girls at risk of child marriage due to COVID-19 – UNICEF

Publication date: March 8, 2021

With 25 million child marriages averted in the last decade, UNICEF issues warning on International Women’s Day that these gains are now under serious threat

10 million additional girls at risk of child marriage due to COVID-19 – UNICEF

At least 1 in 7 children has lived under stay-at-home policies for most of the last year, putting mental health and well-being at risk

Publication date: March 4, 2021

As we approach one-year into the pandemic, UNICEF urges greater investment in mental health services

COVID-19: Schools for more than 168 million children globally have been closed for almost a full year, says UNICEF

Publication date: March 3, 2021

UNICEF unveils ‘Pandemic Classroom’ at United Nations Headquarters in New York to call attention to the need for governments to prioritize the reopening of schools

On 1 March 2021, a view of UNICEF’s ‘Pandemic Classroom’ installation at United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States of America.

First COVID-19 COVAX vaccine doses administered in Africa

Publication date: March 1, 2021

Today, the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana began COVID-19 vaccination campaigns aimed at protecting healthcare workers

On Monday 1 March 2020, Raymonde Goudou Coffie, Minister of Culture and Francophonie, is one of the first COVID-19 vaccine receiver of Côte d’Ivoire at the Treichville vaccination centre, in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Côte d’Ivoire becomes second African country and first French-speaking country to receive vaccine doses via COVAX Facility

Publication date: February 26, 2021

The COVAX initiative shipped 504,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, licensed by the Serum Institute of India, to India, and 505,000 syringes to Abidjan, on 26 February 2021.

On Friday 26 February 2021, Cote d’Ivoire has received 504,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses from the COVAX Facility.

COVID-19 vaccine doses shipped by the COVAX Facility head to Ghana, marking beginning of global rollout

Publication date: February 24, 2021

COVAX announces 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine licensed to Serum Institute of India have arrived in Accra, Ghana; further deliveries to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire are expected this week

On 24 February 2021, staff unloads the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines distributed by the COVAX Facility at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana's capital.

UNICEF begins shipping syringes for the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines under COVAX

Publication date: February 23, 2021

100,000 syringes will arrive in Maldives, with more countries to receive imminent deliveries for rollout of COVAX Facility vaccines

Auto-disable syringes that are being used in the COVID-19 response, photographed at UNICEF's warehouse in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 22 January 2021.

UNICEF Canada and CanWaCH welcome Canada’s new $75 million investment in the ACT Accelerator

Publication date: February 19, 2021

The Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) and UNICEF Canada welcome Canada’s continued leadership in global health demonstrated through the announcement of $75 million in new funding for the ACT Accelerator.