Latest news with #UNChildren'sFund
Scoop
5 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Haiti: Violence And Displacement Driving Humanitarian Crisis As Funding Needs Go Unmet
23 July 2025 Nearly 1.3 million people in the Caribbean country have fled their homes, with an additional 15,000 uprooted last week after armed attacks in the communes of Dessalines and Verrettes in the Artibonite department. Furthermore, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and its partners have screened more than 217,000 children for acute malnutrition in 2025. Some 21,500 boys and girls have been admitted for acute malnutrition treatment, representing a mere 17 per cent of the 129,000 children who are projected to need lifesaving services this year. This malnutrition stems from severe food insecurity across the country. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported that an estimated 5.7 million people – more than half of Haiti's population – faced high levels of acute food insecurity between March and June this year. Education emergency Haiti's children also face an education emergency. More than 1,600 schools remain closed in Haiti, an increase of over two thirds compared to the start of the year. 'Without access to education, children, of course, are more vulnerable to exploitation and recruitment by gangs,' UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at Headquarters in New York In response, UNICEF has provided learning opportunities to more than 16,000 children, and the agency has given over 100,000 children mental health and psychosocial support. Insecurity and lack of funds straining access Despite dire humanitarian needs and commendable efforts by UN agencies, the current support 'is just a fraction of what is needed in Haiti', Mr. Dujarric emphasised. Insecurity continues to constrain the humanitarian response, causing access challenges, supply shortages and the closure of health facilities. Subsequently, the many displaced families in urgent need of hygiene supplies, food, emergency shelter, medical assistance and other essential items are often unable to access them. Humanitarian response is also hampered by a severe lack of funds. 'Haiti remains, as I have said here many times, the least funded of our underfunded country appeals globally,' Mr. Dujarric stressed. More than halfway through the year, the Haitian humanitarian response plan has received less than 9 per cent of the $908 million required.
Barnama
22-07-2025
- Health
- Barnama
UNICEF Says 'starvation Is A Horrific Reality' For Gaza's Children
HAMILTON (Canada), July 22 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued a stark warning Monday over the worsening hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip, calling it a 'man-made disaster' as Israel's ongoing aid blockade drives deadly malnutrition among children, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. "Hunger is widespread in Gaza and people are dying," the agency said on X, painting a grim picture of daily life under Israeli siege. Noting that "deadly malnutrition among children is reaching catastrophic levels," UNICEF said that "food is dangerously scarce, and clean water is below emergency levels." bootstrap slideshow "Aid is severely restricted and dangerous to access," the UN agency added. Emphasising the urgency of the situation, UNICEF said: "Enough is enough. The United Nations must be allowed to deliver aid of all types at scale to families, wherever they are." "Starvation is a horrific reality for children and families in Gaza," it said, stressing that aid must be urgently allowed into the enclave. UNICEF's warning came amid Israel's relentless attacks across the Gaza Strip, which show no sign of abating, even as a deepening famine claims more lives. At least 18 people have died from starvation over the past 24 hours alone, highlighting the escalating humanitarian catastrophe as relentless bombardment and deprivation converge to push civilians beyond the brink. Israel has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, collapsed the health system, and led to severe food shortages.
Sinar Daily
22-07-2025
- Health
- Sinar Daily
Unicef says 'starvation' is a horrific reality for Gaza's children
Noting that "deadly malnutrition among children is reaching catastrophic levels," UNICEF said that "food is dangerously scarce, and clean water is below emergency levels." 22 Jul 2025 03:42pm This picture taken from a position on the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip, shows smoke billowing during Israeli strikes in the Palestinian territory, on July 21, 2025. Photo by AFP At least 18 people have died from starvation over the past 24 hours alone. Photo by AFP HAMILTON - The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued a stark warning Monday over the worsening hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip, calling it a 'man-made disaster' as Israel's ongoing aid blockade drives deadly malnutrition among children, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. "Hunger is widespread in Gaza and people are dying," the agency said on X, painting a grim picture of daily life under Israeli siege. Noting that "deadly malnutrition among children is reaching catastrophic levels," UNICEF said that "food is dangerously scarce, and clean water is below emergency levels." "Aid is severely restricted and dangerous to access," the UN agency added. Emphasising the urgency of the situation, UNICEF said: "Enough is enough. The United Nations must be allowed to deliver aid of all types at scale to families, wherever they are." "Starvation is a horrific reality for children and families in Gaza," it said, stressing that aid must be urgently allowed into the enclave. UNICEF's warning came amid Israel's relentless attacks across the Gaza Strip, which show no sign of abating, even as a deepening famine claims more lives. At least 18 people have died from starvation over the past 24 hours alone, highlighting the escalating humanitarian catastrophe as relentless bombardment and deprivation converge to push civilians beyond the brink. Israel has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, collapsed the health system, and led to severe food shortages. - BERNAMA More Like This
Scoop
17-07-2025
- General
- Scoop
From Crisis To Classroom: How The UN Supports Education In Conflict Zones
17 July 2025 Of the 234 million school-age children affected by conflict globally, 85 million children are completely out of school. The figures are 'unprecedented,' Helena Murseli, who leads the UN Children's Fund's (UNICEF) Global Education in Emergencies team, told UN News. 'These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a global pattern of escalating conflict that affects children's right to learn,' she said. Childhood without education In the short and long-term, the consequences of missing out on education during violent crises are severe. 'Education is not just lifesaving, it's also life-sustaining and life-changing,' Ms. Murseli emphasised. 'When schools close, families also lose their anchor. Children miss the structure, the safety, the normalcy that education provides,' she said. 'The day-to-day reality becomes about immediate survival, rather than building a future for them.' Ms. Murseli stressed that the long-term impacts are just as or even more significant. 'Education breaks cycles of conflict and poverty. When entire generations miss school, countries lose the human capital needed for recovery and development. We risk creating what we call a 'lost generation'—children who grow up knowing only crisis, without the skills or hope to rebuild their society.' Sudan: The world's largest education crisis In terms of numbers, Sudan is the world's largest education emergency. An estimated 19 million children are out of school, and 90 per cent of schools are closed nationwide due to ongoing violent conflict. To help address this crisis, Ms. Murseli highlighted that over 2.4 million children have returned to school through more than 850 UNICEF-run Makanna centres – meaning 'our space' in Arabic. UNICEF has also supported over 250,000 children with holistic education services, providing students with water, sanitation, nutrition and protection so they're able to successfully continue their studies. The also organization utilises solar-powered tablets for education, 'perfect for a country with more than 10 hours of daily sunshine,' said Ms. Murseli. Additionally, a $400 million Transitional Educational Plan led by the UN's education organization (UNESCO) aims to restore access to education and vocational training. Looking ahead, UNICEF's education support project in Sudan plans to support relatively stable states with printed materials and remote learning tools. Systematic destruction of schools in Gaza The war in Gaza and the destruction of 95 per cent of educational infrastructure has left over 660,000 children out of school – nearly all of Gaza's school-aged population. Many former UN-run schools are now being used as shelters for displaced people. A report to the UN Human Rights Council found that Israeli forces systematically destroyed education infrastructure in Gaza and described these actions as possible war crimes. Learning with what's available According to Ms. Murseli and the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) more than 68,000 children in Gaza have been reached through temporary learning spaces offering education and psychosocial support. UNICEF is also recycling pallets into school furniture and converting supplied boxes into tables and chairs. Ukraine: education under fire Within Ukraine, 5.3 million children face barriers to education, and around 115,000 are completely out of school due to the ongoing war. With many schools on the front lines either closed or operating remotely, over 420,000 children attend school fully online, while 1 million use a hybrid model. However, ongoing energy shortages have reduced access to online learning to as little as two and a half hours each day, and in-person school is often disrupted by indiscriminate attacks. In Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine, the UN Human Rights Office said that authorities are enforcing a militarised, patriotic curriculum and banning the Ukrainian language – actions that violate international law, which requires occupying powers to respect children's national identity and education. Catch-up classes and safe spaces UNICEF has established 150 student learning centres in frontline areas and offers twice-weekly catch-up classes in maths and Ukrainian language. To adapt to the situation on the front lines, Ms. Murseli also highlighted UNICEF's running of schools in underground metro systems and bomb shelters. In 2025, the organization aims to help over 500,000 children across the country access formal education and recreational activities. To increase safety, UN Ukraine has also launched an initiative to create protected shelters for students and staff during air raids. The costs of inaction As crises deepen and humanitarian funding continues to decline, education programmes have faced dramatic cuts. Ms. Murseli underscored that as humanitarian funding could drop up to 45 per cent by the end of this year, 'despite being families' top priority in emergencies, education receives only 3 per cent of humanitarian aid.' 'I think we are at the critical turning point where we need urgent prioritisation of education and not further cuts,' she said. Amid rhetoric of a 'humanitarian reset' – saving funds by making the humanitarian system more effective – Ms. Murseli emphasised that holistic education programmes that provide students with the humanitarian resources to thrive are the key to withstanding crises and development in the aftermath. 'We're talking about 234 million children's future and ultimately, global stability and development. The cost of inaction far exceeds the investment needed to get every crisis-affected child learning,' she concluded.
Days of Palestine
08-07-2025
- Health
- Days of Palestine
UNICEF Warns of Life-Threatening Baby Malnutrition in Gaza
DaysofPal — The head of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has issued a dire warning about a worsening nutrition crisis among infants in the Gaza Strip, as humanitarian aid remains largely blocked by Israeli restrictions. Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, said on Monday that 'thousands of babies in Gaza lack proper nutrition,' citing Israel's continued obstruction of aid deliveries into the besieged enclave. She posted on X that 'many mothers have been killed or are too malnourished to breastfeed, leaving infants at risk of dying or suffering permanent health damage.' 'Every minute counts in saving their lives,' she added, underscoring the urgency of delivering food and medical supplies. Since October 2023, Israel has waged a relentless military campaign on Gaza, killing more than 57,500 Palestinians—most of them women and children—and severely damaging the territory's health system and infrastructure. Despite mounting international demands for a ceasefire, aid convoys face ongoing delays and denials, pushing the population deeper into famine-like conditions. Israel now faces multiple international legal challenges, including a genocide case at the International Court of Justice and arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. UNICEF and other humanitarian agencies have repeatedly appealed for unfettered access to Gaza to prevent what they describe as 'an avoidable loss of innocent lives.' Shortlink for this post:
