Tag: Unicef

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UNICEF: Lebanon’s kids face new normal of horror 

Hundreds of thousands of children were made homeless in Lebanon…reports Asian Lite News

“Despite more than 200 children killed in Lebanon in less than two months, a disconcerting pattern has emerged: their deaths are met with inertia from those able to stop this violence,” according to UNICEF Spokesperson James Elder. 

“For the children of Lebanon, it has become a silent normalisation of horror,” said Elder in a press briefing today in Geneva. 

“We must hope humanity never again witnesses the ongoing level of carnage of children in Gaza, though there are chilling similarities for children in Lebanon.” 

Hundreds of thousands of children were made homeless in Lebanon, he said, noting that Despite efforts in early November to open some schools for children in Lebanon, given widespread attacks over the weekend, all are again closed. 

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.  

In his video message to the fifth session of the conference on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, Guterres said that the idea of such a zone stretches back across decades, but with regional conflicts raging and tensions reaching a boiling point, this goal is becoming more urgent by the day, Xinhua news agency reported. 

For over a year, Gaza has experienced a non-stop nightmare that threatens to engulf the entire region. And we are all alarmed by the escalation in Lebanon, he noted. 

The UN chief called on the international community to mobilise for an immediate ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and the beginning of an irreversible process towards a two-State solution. 

“At the same time, true, sustainable security — in the Middle East and around the world — depends on continuing to pursue our disarmament goals,” he said. 

The Pact for the Future adopted in September includes a fresh global commitment to achieve a world free of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, Guterres said. “A zone in the Middle East would represent an important step towards that goal.” 

He said that the recent awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, an organisation of survivors of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, demonstrated renewed global momentum to eliminate nuclear weapons, once and for all. 

Guterres stressed the importance of establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, saying that the work of the conference is critical to building a more peaceful future for all people — in the Middle East and around the world. 

ALSO READ: World Bank: UAE a regional hub for trade, biz & travel 

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Environment UAE News

UAE Hospitality Leader Pledges $2 Million to UNICEF for Climate Action

Abdulla’s continuous support over the years has played a pivotal role in advancing UNICEF’s mission…reports Asian Lite News

Abdulla Al Abdulla, Chief Operating Officer and Group General Manager of Central Hotels and Resorts, the UAE’s rapidly expanding hospitality entity, underscores his resolute dedication to combatting the Climate Crisis. He has pledged a substantial $2 million to bolster UNICEF’s programmatic response at the recently concluded COP28.

This substantial contribution will be strategically allocated to target projects addressing climate change’s direct and indirect consequences. Abdulla’s continuous support over the years has played a pivotal role in advancing UNICEF’s mission. 

His remarkable generosity underscores the importance of collective action in mitigating the impact of climate change on children worldwide. The pledged funds will be instrumental in implementing targeted projects that aim to create a sustainable future for children globally.

“In the face of the climate crisis, my commitment to UNICEF’s cause at COP28 is more than a pledge; it’s a promise to safeguard the future of our planet and the well-being of generations to come,” said Abdulla.  

Before signing the agreement, Abdulla served as a panelist moderated by Financial Times. He discussed important topics, including climate resilience and adaptation, with a specific emphasis on water security.

UNICEF acknowledges Abdulla’s significant investment as a catalyst for positive change and a vital step forward in realizing our shared vision. 

“UNICEF is grateful for the generous donation from Abdulla al Abdulla and for his commitment to help address the impacts of climate change in vulnerable communities. Over 1 billion children are at extremely high risk of severe and destructive climate hazards. This commitment will help UNICEF save and protect children’s lives,” said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Kitty van der Heijden.

This partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration in addressing global challenges and underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to create a more sustainable and resilient future for the next generation. 

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-Top News World News

Stop this horror, says UNICEF chief  

The United Nations and the Red Cross also voiced alarm, demanding that thousands of patients and civilians there be protected…reports Asian Lite News

The head of the UN children’s agency decried Wednesday the “devastating” scenes she witnessed during a visit to war-ravaged Gaza, urging the parties to the conflict to “stop this horror.”

“What I saw and heard was devastating. They have endured repeated bombardment, loss and displacement. Inside the Strip, there is nowhere safe for Gaza’s one million children to turn,” UNICEF chief Catherine Russell said in a statement after visiting among other things a hospital in the south of the Palestinian territory.

The United Nations and the Red Cross also voiced alarm, demanding that thousands of patients and civilians there be protected.

“I’m appalled by reports of military raids in Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza,” UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said on X, formerly Twitter.

“The protection of newborns, patients, medical staff and all civilians must override all other concerns,” he said.

“Hospitals are not battlegrounds.”

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus agreed.

“Reports of military incursion into Al-Shifa hospital are deeply concerning,” he wrote on X, warning that the UN health agency had “lost touch again with health personnel at the hospital.”

“We’re extremely worried for their and their patients’ safety.”

The International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement that it was “extremely concerned about the impact on sick and wounded people, medical staff, and civilians.”

“All measures to avoid any consequences on them must be taken,” it said, insisting that “patients, medical staff, and civilians must be at all times protected.”

The ICRC added that it was “in contact with all concerned authorities and we continue to closely monitor the situation.”

Israel vowed to crush Hamas after the Palestinian militant group launched unprecedented cross-border attacks that Israel says left 1,200 people dead with another 239 taken hostage.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says Israel’s ensuing air and ground offensive have killed 11,320 people, mostly civilians, including thousands of children.

Al-Shifa is a key target in Israel’s campaign. The United Nations has said it estimates that at least 2,300 people — patients, staff and displaced civilians — are inside and may be unable to escape because of fierce fighting.

Witnesses have described horrific conditions inside the hospital, with medical procedures taking place without anesthetic, families with scant food or water living in corridors and the stench of decomposing corpses filling the air.

ALSO READ-UNICEF: 90% Earthquake Victims in Afghanistan Women & Children

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-Top News Afghanistan Asia News

UNICEF in talks with Taliban over handover of education programmes

Afghan students attend school in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, March 20, 2022. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua/IANS)

As per UNICEF, it had received assurances from the Taliban’s Education Ministry that its community-based classes, which educate 500,000 students, would continue while they discussed the matter, reports Asian Lite News

The UN children’s agency has said it is holding discussions with the Taliban over “timelines and practicalities” for a possible required handover of its education programmes and that classes would continue in the meantime, TOLO News reported.

Aid officials said that the Taliban had signalled international organisations could no longer be involved in education projects, in a move criticised by the UN but not yet confirmed by Taliban authorities.

As per UNICEF, it had received assurances from the Taliban’s Education Ministry that its community-based classes, which educate 500,000 students, would continue while they discussed the matter.

UNICEF’s Afghanistan spokesperson, Samantha Mort, said: “As the lead agency for the education cluster in Afghanistan, UNICEF is engaged in constructive discussions with the de facto Ministry of Education and appreciates the commitment from the de facto minister to keep all … classes continuing while discussions take place about timelines and practicalities.”

“In order to minimize disruption to children’s learning, it is imperative that any handover to national NGOs is done strategically and includes comprehensive assessment and capacity building,” she said.

A Taliban spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Taliban’s Ministry of Education has not publicly confirmed the policy.

Taliban, which took power in 2021, closed most secondary schools to girls, stopped female students from attending universities and stopped many Afghan women from working for aid groups and the United Nations.

International organisations have been heavily involved in education projects, and UNICEF made an agreement with the Taliban to run community classes before they took over the country, as per TOLO News.

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, on Thursday, said that nearly 16 million children in Afghanistan need urgent humanitarian aid, warning of a “children’s crisis,” Khaama Press reported.

“In a country with almost 16 million children in need of protection and humanitarian assistance, in a country in which way too many kids are burdened with responsibilities way beyond their age, in a country where the children’s rights are eroded every day, having a space like this offers the kids a respite, a safe and secure space where the kids can rest, can relax, can play and can make friends,” UNICEF representative in Afghanistan, Fran Equiza said. (ANI)

ALSO READ: ‘Nearly 16m Afghan kids in dire need of humanitarian aid’

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-Top News Health India News

UNICEF report lauds India’s vaccine confidence

World’s Children 2023 report highlights India as one of the countries with the highest vaccine confidence in the world…writes Shalini Bhardwaj

UNICEF India on Thursday released the agency’s global flagship report “The State of the World’s Children 2023: For Every Child, Vaccination,” highlighting the significance of childhood immunisation.

According to Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF India Representative, World’s Children 2023 report highlights India as one of the countries with the highest vaccine confidence in the world, “The State of the World’s Children 2023 report highlights India as one of the countries with the highest vaccine confidence in the world. This is a recognition of the Government of India’s political and social commitment and demonstrates that the #largestvaccinesdrive during the pandemic has paid off in building confidence and strengthening systems for routine immunization to vaccinate every child.” “Immunization is one of humanity’s most remarkable success stories, allowing children to live healthy lives and contribute to society. Reaching the last child with immunization is a key marker of equity that benefits not only the child but also the whole community. Routine immunizations and strong health systems can best prepare us in preventing future pandemics and reducing morbidity and mortality,” added McCaffrey

Based on new data collected by The Vaccine Confidence Project (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) and published by UNICEF, the report reveals that popular perception of the importance of vaccines for children held firm or improved only in China, India and Mexico out of 55 countries studied.

While the vaccine confidence marks a decline in over a third of the studied countries, e.g., in the Republic of Korea, Papua New Guinea, Ghana, Senegal and Japan after the start of the pandemic. The report warns of the growing threat of vaccine hesitancy due to factors such as access to misleading information and declining trust in vaccine efficacy.

The decline in vaccine confidence globally comes amid the largest sustained backslide in childhood immunization in 30 years, fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic interrupted childhood vaccination almost everywhere, especially due to intense demands on health systems, the diversion of immunization resources to COVID-19 vaccination, health worker shortages and stay-at-home measures.

The report has also mentioned that a total of 67 million children missed out on vaccinations between 2019 and 2021. “A total of 67 million children missed out on vaccinations between 2019 and 2021, with vaccination coverage levels decreasing in 112 countries. In 2022, for example, the number of measles cases was more than double the total in the previous year. The number of children paralysed by polio was up 16 per cent year-on-year in 2022. When comparing the 2019 to 2021 period with the previous three-year period, there was an eight-fold increase in the number of children paralysed by polio, highlighting the need to ensure vaccination efforts are sustained,” the report warns.

“Despite an increase in the number of zero-dose (unreached or missed out) children to three million – between 2020 and 2021 – during the pandemic, India was able to arrest the backslide and bring down the number to 2.7 million, which represents a smaller proportion of the India’s under -5 child population given its size and the world’s largest birth cohort. This achievement can be attributed to sustained evidence-based catch-up campaigns initiated by the government, including the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI), continued provision of comprehensive Primary Health Care services, a strong Routine Immunization programme and dedicated health workers. Continued progress is being made to reach the last mile and the last child,” read a statement issued by UNICEF.

“New data produced for the report by the International Center for Equity in Health found that in the poorest households, 1 in 5 children are zero-dose while in the wealthiest, it is just 1 in 20. It found unvaccinated children often live in hard-to-reach communities such as rural areas or urban slums. They often have mothers who have not been able to go to school and who are given little say in family decisions. These challenges are greatest in low- and middle-income countries, where about 1 in 10 children in urban areas are zero dose and 1 in 6 in rural areas. In upper-middle-income countries, there is almost no gap between urban and rural children,” the statement added. (ANI)

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-Top News Africa News

Unicef appeals for funding to respond to cholera outbreak

South Sudan's Ministry of Health has declared a cholera outbreak following the confirmation of eight cases in Rubkona county. The Ministry said the move follows tests conducted by the National Public Health Laboratory in Juba that confirmed the outbreak, reports Xinhua news agency. "Public is being urged not to panic but remain calm and observe all the precautionary measures to prevent community transmission and spread in populations with inadequate access to safe drinking water, poor personal hygiene, and inadequate access to improved sanitation facilities," the Ministry said in a statement. It said so far, a total of 31 cases including one death have been reported from Rubkona town and Bentiu IDP camp. The Ministry said the confirmed cases presented with watery diarrhoea, vomiting, and dehydration and were admitted and managed at MSF Bentiu protection of civilians (PoC) hospital, noting that all cases have been discharged. It reported a confirmed case of cholera from Bentiu IDP camp on April 14 and the latest is the first cholera case to be reported in South Sudan since the devastating cholera outbreak in 2017, affecting more than 28,000 people with 644 deaths. The Ministry said following the confirmation of the initial case on April 14 it has with support from partners deployed a rapid response team from April 22 to 29 to investigate the causes and support the state-level response. And adequate supplies have also been deployed to support the investigation and treatment of cases in Rubkona county. According to the ministry, the government with support from its partners conducted two rounds of oral cholera vaccination in Rubkona county in January and March, respectively. Cholera risk is typically high during the rainy season that starts from May to the end of October.

The 11 countries are experiencing an extremely worrying cholera outbreak with 67,822 cases and 1,788 estimated deaths…reports Asian Lite News

The Unicef has appealed for $171 million to respond to the rise in cholera cases in 11 countries in eastern and southern Africa.

It said 28 million people are in need in Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, South Sudan, Burundi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.

“To respond to the increasing needs of children and families in the region impacted by cholera, Unicef is urgently calling for funding of $171 million,” the UN body said in a statement.

The Unicef said the funds will be used to provide lifesaving water, sanitation and hygiene, health, risk communication, nutrition, child protection, and education services to women and children affected by the outbreak.

The 11 countries are experiencing an extremely worrying cholera outbreak with 67,822 cases and 1,788 estimated deaths, noting that actual figures are likely higher as limitations in surveillance systems, underreporting, and stigma hamper monitoring, the UN agency said.

It said it is developing individualized cholera response plans based on the unique conditions within each affected country.

According to the Unicef, the budgets for both Malawi and Mozambique include requirements to address each country’s recent cyclone-related flooding, given that flooding is a priority compounding risk to the spread of cholera.

In February, the WHO Regional Office for Africa warned that if the current fast-rising trend of cholera continues, this year’s infections could surpass the number of cases recorded in 2021, the worst year for cholera in the continent in nearly a decade.

In 2021, 141,467 cases of cholera and 4,094 deaths were registered.

Cholera is an acute, extremely virulent infection that can spread rapidly and dehydration results in high morbidity and mortality. The disease, however, is easily treatable.

ALSO READ: India vows to work with African nations

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-Top News World News

UNICEF regional director lauds India’s G20 initiatives

Sharing the outcome of the two-day conference, RIS Director General, Sachin Chaturvedi said, “There is a need for a shift in the approach to development transformation that recognizes the role of women in development…reports Asian Lite News

Investments in early childhood and adolescence can be a powerful driver of inclusive economic growth, said United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Regional Director for South Asia George Laryea-Adjei on Tuesday.

“The G20 vision of One Earth, One Family and One Future, should prioritise brain power or cognitive capacities of individuals and of nations. The world needs to advance cognitive development, which necessitates a new model for development. We know with India in the lead of G20, this new model will emerge,” George added.

A two-day, Think 20 (T20) conference was organised by Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) with support from Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance & Policy Analysis (AIGGPA), an autonomous institute of Government of Madhya Pradesh, Niti Aayog (MPNITI) and other partners in Bhopal.

Sharing the outcome of the two-day conference, RIS Director General, Sachin Chaturvedi said, “There is a need for a shift in the approach to development transformation that recognizes the role of women in development.

Women entrepreneurship should be promoted, encouraged and revitalised. Investing in children has not received the priority and focus that it deserves and for this we have prioritised children specific issues in the T20 process to inform the wider G20 deliberations like nutrition and quality education. Let us invest in children today for humanity’s tomorrow.”

A joint RIS-UNICEF panel on ‘Investing in children: Investing in future’ with participation of several national and internal experts put forward policy recommendations for the G20 that focus on investing in child-centric policies that prioritise progressive universal child benefits especially around the early years, maternity benefits and childcare.

A few recommendations that experts put forward includes the importance of investing in the early years of childhood. Investing in universal social protection benefits for children, including family friendly policies – particularly in the early years of childhood.

There is a need to build adolescence skills including digital literacy to transition into the 21st century job market including technology-driven and green-led growth. Ensuring participation and action of youth in generating innovative solutions for climate change through LiFE. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Unicef: Girls worldwide lag behind boys in math

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News

Tanzania joins hands with Unicef to end child marriage

An estimated three in 10 women in Tanzania get married as children, making it home to the 11th largest number of child brides worldwide, said the statement…reports Asian Lite News

An estimated three in 10 women in Tanzania get married as children, making it home to the 11th largest number of child brides worldwide, said the statement.

The government of Tanzania and the UNICEF have launched a campaign aimed at ending child marriage in the country.

The statement from the Unicef said the campaign, which was launched on Wednesday and called Binti, meaning daughter in Kiswahili, aims to rally public support to increase girls’ marriage age and change societal perceptions about the importance of the girl child, reports Xinhua news agency.

An estimated three in 10 women in Tanzania get married as children, making it home to the 11th largest number of child brides worldwide, said the statement.

The statement said preventing child marriage is an entry point to addressing broader issues around children and young peoples’ aspirations and life opportunities, the value of girls in society, breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty, and ensuring the roles of young people as agents of change.

“We need to take a closer look at the opportunities that girls in Tanzania are missing out on due to child marriage,” said Shalini Bahuguna, the Unicef representative in Tanzania.

“When girls are conditioned to expect to sacrifice their learning, childhood, and dreams in order to get married, it’s damaging to their mental health, and they are exposed to a cycle of violence, exploitation, health challenges, and poverty. They cannot fulfil their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.”

With a population of nearly 60 million and more than 50 per cent under 18 years, Tanzania is experiencing increasing demands for quality education, improved healthcare, and growing challenges for young people to get employment, among other bottlenecks, said the statement.

ALSO READ-Unicef extends support to flood-hit B’desh

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Arab News News Saudi Arabia

Saudi contributes $7 mn to Unicef education programmes in Yemen

Unicef announced a new contribution of $7 million by Saudi Arabia to support the Fund’s education programmes in war-torn Yemen…reports Asian Lite News

According to the Unicef, the monetary aid will help increase access to quality education for girls and boys through formal, non-formal and alternative education opportunities, reports Xinhua news agency.

The project aims to reach 578,000 children, 7,000 teachers and 54,000 community members in Yemen, it added.

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The grant brings recent Saudi contributions to Unicef to $22 million.

Earlier agreements provided quality maternal and newborn health services and access to safe water for thousands of children in Yemen, said the UN agency.

Protracted armed conflict, widespread economic collapse and a breakdown in national systems and services have left 72 per cent of the population of Yemen, including 12.9 million children, in need of humanitarian assistance.

Unicef requires $484.4 million to respond to the country’s humanitarian crisis this year.

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Arab News News World

Unicef: 10,200 children killed, injured in Yemen’s years-long conflict

Unicef 10,200 children killed, injured in Yemen’s years-long conflict

Unicef announced that 10,200 children have been killed or injured since the ongoing conflict in Yemen escalated nearly seven years ago…reports Asian Lite News

“The actual number is likely much higher,” Xinhua news agency quoted Unicef’s Representative to Yemen Philippe Duamelle as saying in a statement.

“Following the intensification of the conflict in 2021, violence has continued to escalate this year and as always children are the first and most to suffer,” Duamelle said.

Just over the first two months of this year, 47 children were reportedly killed or maimed in several locations across Yemen, he added.

The statement noted that “violence, misery and grief have been commonplace in Yemen with severe consequences on millions of children and families. It is high time that a sustainable political solution is reached for people and their children to finally live in the peace they so well deserve”.

Last week, the Unicef had said that some 21 million people, or nearly 70 per cent of Yemen’s total population, need life-saving humanitarian assistance.

In the country, nearly 400,000 children under the age of five are slipping from acute malnutrition to severe acute malnutrition, the humanitarian agency said.

According to the Unicef, Yemen remains one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world to date.

Since the civil war escalated in March 2015, tens of thousands of people have been killed, 4 million displaced, while the country remains on the brink of famine.

ALSO READ: UN warns of impending famine in Yemen

The Unicef said it requires $484.4 million to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen in 2022.

The war started when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since the Houthi militia overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014.