Middle East and North Africa is one of the geographical regions where UNICEF is currently running programs for children in need. On this page, you will find more information on UNICEF’s work.

2016 in review: UNICEF’s impact in five of the most dangerous crises

2016 was a year of challenges and upheaval across the globe. The ongoing migration and refugee crisis has uprooted nearly 50 million children worldwide, leaving them vulnerable to violence and exploitation. Conflict and natural hazards continue to take a toll on children, with nearly 1 in 4 living in areas affected by crisis. In Haiti, the destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew has left 2.7 million people in need of life-saving assistance. In the aftermath of the conflict in Central African Republic, 1 in 2 children is affected by stunting.

A call to end violence against children in Syria on this International Day of Non-Violence

The United Nations, in declaring October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence, sought to reassert the universal importance of non-violence while promoting a culture revolving around peace, tolerance and understanding. The past week’s events in Syria, however, speak to a conflict transformed into a humanitarian crisis that has worsened with time. In eastern Aleppo alone, at least 96 children have been killed and 223 others injured. Such circumstances make it increasingly harder to deliver desperately needed humanitarian aid. Below are stories, told through pictures, that depict the dedication of the teams from UNICEF and its partner organizations over the last week. What they show is courage, determination and hope amidst all of the horror.