Press Releases

2024 looms as ‘increasingly bleak’ for children affected by armed conflicts and disasters - UNICEF Geneva Palais briefing note

Publication date: December 15, 2023

This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban – to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva

Edguimar (10), looks out of the window of the bus that will transport her to Tegucigalpa to follow the migration route to the United States, after leaving the Temporary Rest Center "Alivio del Sufrimiento" located in El Paraíso, on November 4, 2023 in Honduras.

Statement by UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Kitty van der Heijden at the conclusion of COP28

Publication date: December 13, 2023

The COP28 climate negotiations generated welcome breakthroughs on both the urgent need to address the root causes of climate change – fossil fuels – and some glimmers of hope for breakthroughs of climate justice for children.

On 4th March 2023, boys look out over their flooded school in Bentiu, Unity State, South Sudan.

Children hit ever-harder by Lebanon’s unrelenting crises – UNICEF

Publication date: December 13, 2023

The impact of Lebanon’s unrelenting, overlapping crises continues to worsen, increasingly robbing children of their education and forcing many into child labour, as parents struggle with ever-diminishing resources.

Bahaa, 13 years old Lebanese child, decided to work during summer time to support his parents in generating income for the family.

UNICEF appeals for US$9.3 billion emergency funding for children living through conflicts and crises in an increasingly hostile world

Publication date: December 12, 2023

The funds will provide essential programs for over 93.7 million children worldwide affected by conflict, disasters, and climate crises

A young boy smiles during the inauguration ceremony of his school in Maingrette.

Statement by Adele Khodr, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa on the continued killing and injuring of children in the Gaza Strip and the humanitarian situation

Publication date: December 9, 2023

The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child. Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them.

Statement by Adele Khodr, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa on the continued killing and injuring of children in the Gaza Strip and the humanitarian situation

Only half of young people able to identify correct definition of climate change – UNICEF, Gallup

Publication date: December 7, 2023

Findings highlight urgent need to protect and invest in children, including in climate education, in decisions at COP28

On 6 December 2023, UNICEF Youth Advocates brief press during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) at Expo City Dubai in United Arab Emirates.

Canada still in the middle of high-income countries on child poverty, new UNICEF report

Publication date: December 5, 2023

Despite some progress, Canada can do more to protect its children from poverty

Despite progress, adolescent girls continue to bear the brunt of the HIV epidemic with 98,000 new infections in 2022 - UNICEF

Publication date: December 1, 2023

Children and adolescents face significant treatment gaps in testing and access to medication

Veronica Marco Bareza carries her youngest child, Mubarak (9 months), at the hospital in Wau, South Sudan.

"The war on children resumes"

Publication date: December 1, 2023

This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Spokesperson James Elder – to whom quoted text may be attributed - via video link from Gaza, at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva

Burkina Faso: Insecurity pushes more than 1 in 10 children into acute malnutrition in heavily affected areas

Publication date: November 28, 2023

New nutrition data shows that insecurity is leaving children exposed to alarming levels of malnutrition and the absence of basic services, warns UNICEF