Press Releases

1.5 million vulnerable children in the Middle East threatened as winter approaches

Publication date: October 26, 2017

The coming winter is the latest threat to children affected by crises in the Middle East. As UNICEF races to provide warm clothing, winter supplies and blankets before the cold sets in, the organisation is facing a $60 million gap that could leave up to 1.5 million children exposed to the cold.

UNICEF Canada pleased to see government putting children first with fall economic update

Publication date: October 25, 2017

UNICEF Canada commends the Government of Canada’s commitment to tie increases in the Canadian Child Benefit (CCB) to the cost of living, announced in the fall economic update yesterday. With a forecast for a significant reduction in the budget deficit, the first priority was to reinvest in Canada’s children. “This is what putting our kids first looks like,” said David Morley, President and CEO of UNICEF Canada.

Insecurity and conflict threaten 4.3 million children in South Sudan

Publication date: October 25, 2017

Across the world’s youngest country, high levels of insecurity and renewed clashes are forcing millions of people to leave their homes, and leaving children critically malnourished and at risk. The situation is rapidly deteriorating and exposing children and their families to violence and life-threatening hunger and diseases. In Bentiu, UNICEF Canada President and CEO David Morley made the following statement.

At current rates of reduction, it will take over 100 years to end child marriage in West and Central Africa

Publication date: October 23, 2017

Unless progress is seriously accelerated, it will take over 100 years to end child marriage in West and Central Africa, with far-reaching, life-altering consequences for millions of child brides and crippling impact on the region’s prosperity, UNICEF said today.

Two months since outbreak of violence in Myanmar, Rohingya refugee children still at acute risk

Publication date: October 23, 2017

Nearly two months since Rohingya families began fleeing en masse to Bangladesh, thousands of children and women are still without basic lifesaving services, UNICEF said today.

Violence in Myanmar driving up to 12,000 Rohingya refugee children into Bangladesh every week – UNICEF

Publication date: October 20, 2017

Desperate living conditions and waterborne diseases are threatening more than 320,000 Rohingya refugee children who have fled to southern Bangladesh since late August, including some 10,000 who crossed from Myanmar over the past few days, UNICEF said today.

7,000 newborns die every day, despite steady decrease in under-five mortality, new report says

Publication date: October 19, 2017

Every day in 2016, 15,000 children died before their fifth birthday, 46 per cent of them – or 7,000 babies – died in the first 28 days of life, according to a new UN report.

Violence in al-Mayadin district, Deir ez-Zor, reportedly destroys cold room and vaccines

Publication date: October 12, 2017

Likely setback to immunization activities in areas where health systems already devastated

GIRLS TAKE OVER: BEYONCÉ LENDS HER SONG ‘FREEDOM’ TO GLOBAL GOALS CAMPAIGN FILM DEMANDING #FREEDOMFORGIRLS ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL

Publication date: October 11, 2017

The Global Goals, agreed to by world leaders in 2015, include a commitment to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030 – Global Goal 5. To mark International Day of the Girl on the 11th October, Project Everyone (the organization behind the Global Goals campaign) in partnership with UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has teamed up with director MJ Delaney to produce a new film featuring the song ‘Freedom’ by Beyoncé.

World’s second largest oral cholera vaccination campaign kicks off at Rohingya camps in Bangladesh

Publication date: October 10, 2017

A massive cholera immunization campaign started today near Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, to protect newly arrived Rohingya and host communities from the life-threatening diarrheal disease. 900 000 doses of the vaccine have been mobilized and are being delivered by more than 200 mobile vaccination teams, making it the second largest oral cholera vaccination campaign ever.