stories from the frontline

COVID-19 vaccines: 5 reasons why dose donations are essential

Vaccines will help us end the COVID-19 pandemic, but only if everyone has access to them.

An open letter on vaccine dose donations

The G7 Summit is a vital opportunity for G7 leaders to agree the actions that will get COVID-19 vaccines where they are ...

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Kiribati receives first batch of COVID-19 vaccines

25 MAY 2021

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In Gaza, at least 60 children have been killed and another 444 have been injured in less than 10 days.

May 20, 06:30am NZT

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In It Together: Cotton On partners with UNICEF to help deliver 1 million COVID-19 vaccines to the world’s most vulnerable

24 May 2021

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Immediate humanitarian access needed to stave off disaster for Gaza’s children

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore

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Eight Palestinian children killed in the Gaza Strip last night

AMMAN, 15 May 2021

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Celebrating mums everywhere this Mother's Day

Supporting and caring for mothers around the world is something very close to our hearts at UNICEF

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Vodafone matches donations for India as Covid-19 cases continue to surge

07 MAY 2021

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UNICEF NZ supports India during crippling Covid-19 crisis

30 APRIL 2021

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Syria receives its first delivery of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility

From UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Ted Chaiban, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern M...

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Syrian children have witnessed so much tragedy

New Zealander James Gray shares his experiences from the field

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Voices of 10-year-old Syrian refugees

Ten years into the Syria crisis, funding is decreasing but the needs remain high – with children facing a double crisis ...

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Water scarcity

Addressing the growing lack of available water to meet children’s needs.

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Hope in their hands: Refugee children share their keepsakes

A picture, a toy, a blanket. All have something in common — they’re the most precious object in the world for a Syrian r...

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The Syrian War in 10 Pictures

10 years on the situation for many children and families remains precarious, with nearly 90 per cent of children in need...

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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

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

Media releases and reports

Geneva Palais briefing note on the situation of children in Syria after ten years of conflict

This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Syria Representative Bo Viktor Nylund – to whom quoted text may be attribut...

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Syrian crisis

After a decade of conflict, children continue to pay the heaviest price.

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The right choice of a syringe

The auto-disable (AD) syringes UNICEF will deliver to support COVID-19 vaccination have an additional mission: to help p...

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Transporting 1 billion syringes to the world

The word unprecedented will always be associated with 2020.

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

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

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New Zealand’s child poverty stats grow faster than my potatoes

On Tuesday, 23 February, Stats NZ will release Aotearoa’s Child Poverty statistics for Year ended June 2020.

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Big Problems Need Big Solutions

We reached more than 760 million children with life-saving vaccines over the last 20 years, and helped prevent more than...

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Chiefs lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi opens up on rugby and living a healthy lifestyle

“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...

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Virtual Field Trip

Join us on our Virtual Field Trip to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea

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UNICEF NZ appoints leading-edge CEO

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

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A firsthand account from the hours after Beirut's explosion

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

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Hunger Relief - Malnutrition

Hunger and malnutrition deprive children of essential nutrients, making them susceptible to severe versions of common si...

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Hunger Relief - Water Lilies

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

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Hunger Relief - Grass

Nyabel Wal travelled for six days to look for food, only to come back empty-handed. With no other options, she’s been fo...

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On World Children’s Day, UNICEF warns COVID-19 is causing irreversible harm to children

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

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5 Things You Should Know About Malnutrition

Childhood malnutrition affects more than 229 million kids worldwide. It's a triple threat which includes undernutrition,...

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Would you go this far to help children?

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

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Displacement leaves its traces on health and nutrition of children in Cabo Delgado

Mossa is the only father in the group. He has come today with his four children: “I wanted to give their mother a break ...

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1 in 6 children lives in extreme poverty, World Bank-UNICEF analysis shows

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

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Former refugee Robel Teklay knows what it means to be hungry

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

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What families eat for breakfast around the world.

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

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How little Adut beat malnutrition

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

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It is an ambitious goal – to end global hunger by 2030

Are we on track?

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Fragile gains to health of women and children threatened

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

Media releases and reports

Kiwi Entrepreneur Commits to Help End Racism and Discrimination in Schools.

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

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'I want all kids to be free of racism'

Kiwi musician Paige Tapara is a singer-songwriter. She spoke to UNICEF NZ about racism, growing up feeling disconnected ...

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Vivien Maidaborn steps down as Executive Director of UNICEF Aotearoa NZ

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

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New Report Card shows that New Zealand is failing its children

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

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How do we help the most vulnerable children from failing in our education system?

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

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How do you deliver vaccines during a pandemic?

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

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Six ways UNICEF is helping children after the explosions in Beirut

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

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"What a time to deliver a baby!"

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

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Concern for wellbeing of children following explosions in Beirut

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

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Breastfeeding during coronavirus

An interview with nutrition expert at UNICEF South Asia

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Inside one of Yemen's few operational hospitals

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

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One Love single featuring Māori singer released worldwide

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

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Yemen's children 'want peace'

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

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UNICEF New Zealand and Bybit launch partnership

An innovative partnership to help children in greatest need

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Parents of newborns get four more weeks of paid parental leave

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

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Samoa better prepared for Covid-19 after measles outbreak

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

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UNICEF's Childhood Challenge

The Childhood Challenge is simple: pull out that old photo album and reminisce about your favourite childhood memories. ...

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Kane Williamson goes to bat for clean water and soap

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

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COVID-19: A double emergency

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

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Highly regarded Māori  advocate joins UNICEF NZ

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

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Global leaders come together to raise $13.6b for vaccines

Enough money to immunise 300 million children.

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Millions of children at risk as Covid-19 impacts nutrition, education and vaccines

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

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Hand washing around the world

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

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COVID-19: Number of children living in household poverty set to soar

New analysis from Save the Children and UNICEF reveals that without urgent action, the number of children living in poor...

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Yemeni children face fighting a virus in a war zone

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

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Protecting Pacific Kids from Covid-19

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

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Snaps of Covid-19 lockdown life with children from around the world

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

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Through pandemics and epidemics, UNICEF has been there (and will be there)

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

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The difference soap and water can make in a refugee camp

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

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Youth Week: What is the value of education?

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

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New Zealand commits $5m to UNICEF to support Indonesia’s Covid-19 response

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

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Child mortality rate set to increase for first time in decades without urgent action

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

Media releases and reports

Children are the unseen victims of COVID-19

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

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Gemma McCaw wants all Kiwi mums to know they’re not alone

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

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Pregnant mothers and babies born during Covid-19 pandemic under threat

With 116 million expected births in the approximately 9 months since the Covid pandemic was recognised, UNICEF calls on ...

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Six inspirational stories about mothers around the world

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

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Vaccines and the diseases they prevent

Find out more about the most commonly recommended vaccines.

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A day in the life of a vaccinator in Mali

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

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The lengths to which health workers go to reach every child with vaccines

Vaccines can prevent disease outbreaks now and in the future.

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Kiwi Mum encourages parents to ask for help amidst Covid-19 crisis

As the Covid-19 crisis pushes families to the brink, Kiwi Mum Malaina Tuafa says now is not the time to worry about putt...

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Routine vaccinations must continue – UNICEF

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

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World Immunisation Week 2020

Find out how vaccines keep your child and community safe.

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In the race to fight against Covid-19, UNICEF's supply chains are working 24/7

The Covid-19 pandemic is having an unprecedented impact on global supply chains. UNICEF is developing innovative solutio...

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A Kiwi mum explains the importance of food parcels

Maya Vai Bourne has a massive heart – she supports her husband Anthony who is on dialysis for ten hours a day as well as...

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Pacific islands face two crises at once

Not only must the region protect its people from the deadly coronavirus pandemic, it has to also recover from a second w...

Media releases and reports

UNICEF NZ and The Salvation Army partner to reach families in response to Covid-19

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

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What will COVID-19 mean for the Pacific?

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

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How children around the world are adapting to life under COVID-19

Children and parents around the world are making a new normal

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How teenagers can protect their mental health during COVID-19

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

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What children want to know about coronavirus

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

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Coronavirus

What can you do? Be part of the solution!

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Covid-19 is devastating Italy

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

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Almost 5 million children born into war in Syria

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

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Hitching a ride aboard a flying, lifesaving vaccine delivery

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

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Two highly experienced business leaders join UNICEF NZ’s board

Rachel Petero and Carmen Vicelich

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Coronavirus: What parents need to know

How to protect yourself and your children.

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“Covid-19 is clearly not a virus that anybody in the world will have immunity to.”

Doctor Nikki Turner

Media releases and reports

Deadly measles and coronavirus outbreaks are on the rise. But where is the outrage for pneumonia?

Boosting efforts to fight pneumonia could avert nearly 9 million child deaths from pneumonia and other major diseases, a...

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In photos: how vaccines reach the most remote places on earth

No child too far.