The issue

War and natural disasters have an especially fierce impact on children in developing countries. Both put children's health and well being at risk. Both can separate them from their parents or make them orphans.

Our impact

Our field staff work hard to relieve the suffering of children and their families. Measles, diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, malaria, and malnutrition are the major killers of children during humanitarian crises. Therefore, emergency immunisation is one of our priority interventions, along with vitamin A supplementation and therapeutic feeding centers. We also work to ensure safe supplies of drinking water, and to improve sanitary conditions for communities and the displaced.

We help reunite parents with their children when they've been separated and make sure that children who are orphaned receive care and protection. We focus on psycho-social support for traumatised children, relief for child soldiers, prevention of HIV/AIDS and give special attention to women and girls caught in crisis situations. And we insist, that even in times of war, children attend school and have safe places to play and learn.

Our emergency aid turns into long-term recovery and development. Re-building and re-establishing schools and health care services, providing permanent safe water supplies and sanitation facilities, and providing long-term care and support for orphans, are just a few of the activities UNICEF undertakes in the weeks and months following an emergency.

You can support our emergency work by donating to our Emergencies Fund.