Fiji and Solomon Islands hit by two hurricanes: UNICEF ready to respond

SUVA, 15 March 2010. – Two extreme cyclones, Tomas and Ului, are striking Fiji and Solomon Islands at the same time. Cyclone Tomas, now over Fiji, has intensified to become a Category Four Hurricane – one short of the maximum. There are initial reports of at least one death, significant infrastructure damage, widespread disruptions to power supplies, drinking water and transportation, flooding, and eight metre sea-swells in the north. The cyclone is moving south along the eastern side of Fiji. Fiji’s disaster management office, DISMAC, said an extensive emergency response was in place with more than 100 emergency shelters set up. A curfew is in effect in the Northern Division with indications that this will be extended to the whole of...

International Women’s Day - a time to focus on adolescent girls

The international community, together with governments around the world, must work more aggressively to ensure that every girl has the right to a childhood that provides her...

UNICEF NZ to Bang the Drum at Wellington Newtown Festival

UNICEF NZ is Banging the Drum for Children in the Pacific at the Newtown Festival in Wellington this Sunday (7 Mar). Drummers from the Cook Island drumming group Tiare...

Wellington theme party to support relief work in Haiti

New Zealand bands will be playing at a theme party on a boat to raise funds for UNICEF’s emergency relief effort in Haiti. Tagged ‘Buckets, Boats n Bands!’, ‘BucketHead’s...

Every Child Counts welcomes Minister’s initiative on $2 billion problem

Wellington, 3 March 2010. – Every Child Counts, of which UNICEF is a core member, welcomes the initiative by Paula Bennett, Minister of Social Development, in convening...

UNICEF and partners stand ready to help after massive earthquake strikes Chile

UNICEF and its UN partners are monitoring events and stand ready to help in the aftermath of an 8.8-magnitude earthquake that shook Chile early Saturday at 3.34am local time....

Sad Day for Human Rights in New Zealand

The passing of the CYF Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Orders Bill through Parliament on Wednesday (24 Feb.) is a sad day for Human Rights in New Zealand , says Dennis McKinlay,...

Treating children as criminals ‘backward step’ for New Zealand

Wellington, 22 February 2010. – A Bill that would see children aged 12 and 13 referred to the Youth Court instead of the Family Court is at odds with New Zealand’s international...

More than 2m Haitian children missing out on school

Wellington, 22 February 2010. – Aid agencies are scrambling to get Haitian children back into the classroom after last month’s earthquake destroyed or damaged as many as 5,000...

Tent classrooms and school kits help restart education in Haiti’s quake zone

By Roshan Khadivi The first day of school in a UN Children’s Fund tent classroom was a happy day for Yolanda Senatus, 9 – and a far cry from the tragic day she had experienced...