stories from the frontline

“Initially, I wanted my kids to be sports stars, but at the end of the day, I just want them to be happy and healthy. If they choose sport then that’s awesome. If they don't choose sport then that’s awesome too."

Leading children’s rights organisation selects Michelle Sharp as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Jackeline Atwi's niece was missing. As she desperately tried to find her, hope was running low.

Hunger and malnutrition deprive children of essential nutrients, making them susceptible to severe versions of common sicknesses and diseases, and can lead to poor growth, development and stunting.

Nine-month-old Baby Chiengjiuk lives in Bentiu camp for displaced people in South Sudan.

Nyabel Wal travelled for six days to look for food, only to come back empty-handed. With no other options, she’s been forced to gather plants which grow close to the ground in the her remote village of Kiech Kon, South Sudan.

Children and adolescents account for 1 in 9 of reported COVID-19 infections, according to new analysis released by UNICEF.

Childhood malnutrition affects more than 229 million kids worldwide. It's a triple threat which includes undernutrition, hidden hunger and overnutrition. Find out what you should know about malnutrition.

UNICEF Health Worker Paul Maesiala travels on a boat for three hours to reach children in remote Solomon Islands.

Mossa is the only father in the group. He has come today with his four children: “I wanted to give their mother a break today. We have such a long, dangerous journey behind us, and she is exhausted and sick because of all the worrying for our kids.”

The pre-COVID-19 analysis reveals that 356 million children struggle to survive on less than $1.90 a day, two-thirds of them in sub-Saharan Africa

Robel talks to UNICEF NZ about growing up with precious little food in Sudan and his journey to New Zealand

Some breakfasts are hot, some are cold. Here’s what breakfast looks like for children in 10 countries around the world.

From not being able to stand by herself, to walking again on her own - this is Adut's 8 week journey to recovery.

Are we on track?

Gains made to advance women and children’s health are threatened by conflict, the climate crisis and COVID-19.

Young Entrepreneur Sharndre Kushor celebrates her 26th birthday with the launch of a foundation and a partnership with UNICEF

Kiwi musician Paige Tapara is a singer-songwriter. She spoke to UNICEF NZ about racism, growing up feeling disconnected from te ao Māori, her struggles with depression, and how ultimately her music gave her a way to express herself.

Vivien Maidaborn is stepping down from her role after more than six years.

Report Card gives New Zealand an F for failure when it comes to wellbeing outcomes for children.

COVID-19 has significantly increased education disparity amongst New Zealand's low-income families and those that enjoy a privileged upbringing.

Vivien Maidaborn is used to fielding unusual questions. But this was a question even she hadn’t heard before.

Here's what we're doing to help children in Beirut.

On the day Khalid held his oldest daughter for the first time, there was an explosion close to the hospital where she was born in Yemen.

UNICEF concerned children among the casualties after massive explosion in Beirut.

An interview with nutrition expert at UNICEF South Asia

Only half of Yemen's health centres are functional. We went inside one of the main hospitals in Sana'a.

Māori soul singer TEEKS features on new version of One Love launched by members of the Marley family.

Aussie aid worker Harriet Dwyer wants to remind people that Yemeni children can truly flourish with the right support.

An innovative partnership to help children in greatest need

Kiwi parents can now spend a full six months at home with their precious pēpi (baby).

Reflections six months after the measles outbreak that killed 83 people.

The Childhood Challenge is simple: pull out that old photo album and reminisce about your favourite childhood memories. It’s a sure way to brighten up your week. Take a look at our favourite staff snaps!

"We can make a huge difference to people's lives by giving them access clean water and soap."

COVID-19 is bringing a new threat to already battered countries – and makes delivering life-saving assistance even harder.

UNICEF New Zealand today welcomes Brandi Hudson to the role of Deputy Executive Director – Child Rights.

Enough money to immunise 300 million children.

Covid-19 has impacted access to vaccines, education, and exacerbated issues around food shortages.

The simple act of hand washing is the best protection we have against Covid-19.

New analysis from Save the Children and UNICEF reveals that without urgent action, the number of children living in poor households across low- and middle-income countries could increase by 15 per cent, to reach 672 million

After more than five years of conflict, families in Yemen now face the threat of a deadly pandemic without even the most basic supplies.

As Covid-19 spreads around the world, communities in the Pacific are desperately preparing to respond to the imminent threat of the pandemic.

Photographers in countries around the world are at home with their families – these are their photos.

For more than 70 years, we have been working to improve the lives of children and their families.

As Covid-19 spreads around the world, water and soap are more important than ever before. But what if you didn’t have access to them?

A reflection on the value of education in the wake of Covid-19.

NZ govt pledges $5 million to protect Indonesia against Covid-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic is fast becoming a lasting crisis for children.

UNICEF appeals for NZD $2.6 billion to meet the growing needs of children impacted by COVID-19.

Gemma McCaw speaks to UNICEF NZ about the joys of motherhood and why looking out for others is so important during the COVID-19 crisis.

With 116 million expected births in the approximately 9 months since the Covid pandemic was recognised, UNICEF calls on governments and donors to maintain lifesaving services for pregnant women and newborns.

As COVID-19 continues to turn our lives upside down, Mother’s Day will look a little different.

Find out more about the most commonly recommended vaccines.

Going the distance to reach every child, no matter where they live.

Vaccines can prevent disease outbreaks now and in the future.

As the Covid-19 crisis pushes families to the brink, Kiwi Mum Malaina Tuafa says now is not the time to worry about putting your hand up for a bit of help.

As COVID-19 has continued to spread globally, more than 117 million children in 37 countries may miss out on receiving the lifesaving measles vaccine.

Find out how vaccines keep your child and community safe.

The Covid-19 pandemic is having an unprecedented impact on global supply chains. UNICEF is developing innovative solutions to ensure we continue to reach as many children as possible with life-saving supplies.

Maya Vai Bourne has a massive heart – she supports her husband Anthony who is on dialysis for ten hours a day as well as her three children and five nieces and nephews. She tells UNICEF NZ why food parcels have been so important for her family during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Not only must the region protect its people from the deadly coronavirus pandemic, it has to also recover from a second wave of destruction - Tropical Cyclone Harold.

For the first time ever, UNICEF New Zealand is fundraising to support Kiwi children and families impacted by Covid-19.

"It's even more important that we continue to support children in these communities."

Children and parents around the world are making a new normal

Six strategies for teens facing a new (temporary) normal.

Straight from the playground - here are the tough questions kiwi kids want answered about Covid-19.

What can you do? Be part of the solution!

But rainbows offer a ray of hope all over the country. “Andrà tutto bene"

As the conflict enters its 10th year, millions of children are entering their second decade of life surrounded by war, violence, death and displacement.

UNICEF Pacific Chief of Comms Cate Heinrich flew aboard a lifesaving vaccine delivery to Samoa last November.

Rachel Petero and Carmen Vicelich

How to protect yourself and your children.

Doctor Nikki Turner

Boosting efforts to fight pneumonia could avert nearly 9 million child deaths from pneumonia and other major diseases, a new analysis has found ahead of the first ever global forum on childhood pneumonia.

No child too far.

Four years ago, Ramia Saidawi left Syria, with her husband and two girls, for a life of safety in New Zealand

NZ is in the middle of a housing crisis with many sides - cost, quality and availability among them. But every child has the right to a safe and healthy home

My bags and I are heading to Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh - the largest refugee settlement in the world

Three-year-old Nur has been vomiting for three days, with severe diarrhoea, and now his father watches him, wondering if he waited too long to bring him in.

Of every 1000 children under five in Kiribati, 47 will die, often from entirely preventable causes. But that's changing.

Eight-year-old Bassam and his family have been running from war for five years, only to have it chase them every step of the way

An unusual ally has been enlisted in the fight against polio in the war-torn mountains of Yemen: Donkeys

Statement from UNICEF Director of Data, Research and Policy Laurence Chandy

New Zealand still isn’t immune from outbreaks of disease, and a lack of vaccination can still be a death sentence for kiwi children

As violence escalates in the Syrian region of Raqqa, families have been fleeing their homes to poorly equipped temporary shelters and camps.

When 19-year-old, award-winning shot putter Nathaniel is not training, he's helping out Kiwi kids as a teacher aide at a Hutt Valley kindergarten.

19 year old Lyric Brooklyn has spent time living on the streets since his early teens. He talks about the challenges of being young and homeless in Wellington.

Syrian children have been fighting to survive war, hunger, poverty and disease. But now they are fighting to survive the cold.

Every day we see the very worst of what people can do to one another, and the very worst conditions that people are forced to survive in.

Iman fled the war in Syria with her four children, but just when she thought they were safe – they faced a threat they couldn’t escape: winter.

Meet Ahmed and Harry.

Marie-Pierre Poirier recently travelled the migrant route through the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Croatia. She shares her story with us

Some Syrian families are attempting to live in relative normality, as fighting takes place down the road

We urgently need your help in petitioning the NZ Govt to support survivors of the Syrian war.

Drone technology is proving a game changer when it comes to immunising the world's hardest-to-reach children

The foreign object is a UNICEF sport-in-a-box kit. It’s the key ingredient in a new partnership between the Black Ferns and UNICEF called PLAY ON, helping children all over the Pacific.

Te Hiringa Tamariki is UNICEF New Zealand’s tamariki Māori wellbeing model. The model was developed during 2018 and 2019 with the assistance of 600 Māori who attended hui in Hastings, Wellington and Auckland.

Baby Luthfi was born just six days after the dual disasters that devastated Indonesia. His mother was feeding him with formula, until a UNICEF-trained midwife supported his transition to breast milk.

Most of the schools in Penama Province, Vanuatu, do not have toilets and there are some obvious health risks for children. With support from our donors, we're helping change this.