UNICEF statement on situation in Gaza

NEW YORK – UNICEF is deeply concerned about the impact of the current violence in Gaza on children. UNICEF urges all parties to the conflict to abide by their international legal obligation to ensure that children are protected and that they receive essential humanitarian supplies and support. Over half of the population in Gaza are children, and children are particularly vulnerable in situations of armed conflict. The UN Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator (OCHA) indicates that children are among victims killed and injured as a result of the recent air strikes. It is critical that humanitarian assistance, including food, medical supplies and equipment be allowed into Gaza to address the urgent needs of children and women.

Life-saving campaign to reach 1.5 million Somali children

Nairobi, Kenya -- Over 1.5 million children under the age of five and women of child-bearing age across the entire country of Somalia will benefit from a package of community-based preventive care. The joint UN Children’s Fund and WHO-led campaign of ‘Child Health Days’ will protect children under five against preventable childhood diseases and water-borne...

Children & women continue to suffer in DR Congo conflict

KINSHASA, 31 December 2008 - The UN Children’s Fund warns that the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to deteriorate and urges the world not to turn a blind eye to the plight of children and women suffering in the ongoing conflict. Since fighting intensified in North Kivu in late August, humanitarian access has been...

Children’s lives improved with your support

UNICEF NZ thanks all its supporters for making the world a better place for children this year. The poorest and most vulnerable children have benefited from substantial progress in the areas of health, education and poverty reduction, although there is still much work to be done. Children are still dying every day from preventable causes. In Zimbabwe,...

UNICEF on front lines of cholera outbreak

The cholera outbreak that has killed close to 1,000 people in Zimbabwe is now spreading to neighbouring countries. The UN estimates that Zimbabwe’s cholera death toll has reached 978, with an additional 18,413 suspected cases. The outbreak is affecting nine out 10 provinces in Zimbabwe and is being described as that country’s worst ever cholera outbreak....

Mia Farrow calls for humanitarian access & protection in DR Congo

Actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow is urging all armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to allow aid organizations to provide life saving assistance to women and children. Ms Farrow, who has just visited DR Congo, told a media conference in Geneva that because of the violence in the eastern province of North Kivu, aid...

UNICEF Ambassador Mia Farrow witnesses DR Congo crisis

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow visited conflict-affected North Kivu, on a three-day mission to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Her goal was to witness the devastating impact of the recent fighting, which has led to an estimated 300,000 displaced people in the last three months. The total number of internally displaced is around one million,...

NZ scores 6 out of 10 in OECD early child care education league table

New Zealand has received six out of 10 in a UNICEF report card on early childhood education and care in 25 wealthy countries. NZ placed seventh equal on a set of 10 benchmarks that outline basic minimum standards for the care and protection of young children. The Nordic countries along with France topped the list. Although NZ beat out all the other...

UNICEF combating Zimbabwe cholera outbreak

After a widespread breakdown in social services, the Government of Zimbabwe declared a national cholera crisis on Wednesday. The country’s health sector has collapsed and hospitals are closing, creating a ‘twin national disaster’. Approximately 565 people have died from cholera since August, with almost 12,550 cumulative cases nationwide. The increase...

Measles deaths cut by three-quarters worldwide

Measles deaths have plummeted by some 74 per cent worldwide since 2000, with UNICEF playing a key role as a global leader in vaccine supply. The estimated number of people dying from measles each year dropped dramatically from an estimated 750,000 to 197,000 between 2000 and 2007, thanks to improvements in routine and supplementary immunization activities....