缅北禁地

Nearly two weeks after Cyclone Mocha, a grim certainty looms as the coastal areas of and enters monsoon season. The cyclone has sent food prices soaring and wiped-out people鈥檚 slender food stocks. But now Mocha鈥檚 devastation has only deepened hunger already sharpened by the country鈥檚 conflict and political and economic crises. has distributed hot meals and emergency food assistance to thousands of people in the immediate aftermath of the storm. A funding shortfall is threatening WFP's response in both countries.

A red alert for children鈥檚 health: Routine immunization coverage dropped sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest edition of  report launched today explores the causes and the steps we must take to make sure that no child is left behind. As the flagship publication of the , the report was first published in 1980, focusing each year on a key issue affecting children. These have ranged from children with disabilities, conflict and war, child labour, urbanization, and early childhood development. 

The number of children without access to social protection is increasing year-on-year, leaving them at risk of poverty, hunger and discrimination, according to a new by the  and .

Children Ukraine war

Children need peace. Now.

One year into the Ukraine war, an estimated 1.5 million children are at risk of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental conditions. Not many are lucky as Kateryna who left Kyiv with her children at the beginning of the war. Once again, children are paying the price of a war not of their own making. has been working with national and local authorities, as well as civil society organizations in Ukraine and neighboring countries to deliver emergency assistance, access to education, health and mental health support, and life-saving information to children and their families.

Leaders across the globe will come together at the  to ensure every child, everywhere, is offered a quality education.

Two six-year-old girls sit at a desk in a classroom reading and pointing to a pamphlet.

Globally, 40 per cent of the population does not have access to an education in a language they speak or understand. A multilingual education starts based on the mother tongue and gradually introduces other languages. This approach bridges the gap between home and school for those whose mother tongue is different from the language of instruction. recognizes that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion and the SDG focus of leaving no one behind. This year鈥檚 observance will explore and debate the potential of multilingualism to transform education.

reports on children鈥檚 chances of survival in 2021 - an estimated 5 million children died before their fifth birthday and another 2.1 million children and youth aged 5鈥24 years lost their lives.

Logic, as the investigation on the principles of reasoning, has been studied by many civilizations throughout history. Since its earliest formulations, logic has played an important role in the development of philosophy and the sciences. aims at fostering international cooperation, promoting the development of logic, in both research and teaching, supporting the activities of associations, universities and other institutions involved with logic, and enhancing the understanding of logic and its implications for science, technology and innovation.

鈥淣ow as a father with two girls, I just can't imagine the anguish that my mother went through 鈥 I wonder how many sleepless nights she had.鈥

Alfred Orono鈥檚 childhood came to an abrupt end when he was recruited as a soldier in Uganda, when he was just 11 years old. Now Chief of Child Protection at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), he draws on his own experience as a child soldier to help young people find a peaceful way forward.

鈥淚 work with children who, when I look at them, I know exactly what's going on in their minds. I know how they feel. And I'm part of the solution to their problems.鈥

Every year, thousands of children are recruited by warring parties around the world. Yet their troubles rarely end after the conflict is over. Having suffered violence, abuse, and exploitation, many struggle to rebuild their lives. In this episode of Awake at Night, Alfred Orono reflects on his own experience, the hope it gives to former child soldiers, and on living life without regrets.

New UNICEF shows the extent to which racism and discrimination impact children鈥檚 education, health, and access to a fair and equal justice system.

Girl holding a soccer ball

From climate change, education and mental health, to ending racism and discrimination, children and young people are raising their voices on the issues that matter to their generation and calling for adults to create a better future. This World Children鈥檚 Day (20 November), kids are standing up for a more equal, inclusive world. What will you do? on World Children鈥檚 Day!

After millennia of living with poliovirus and the suffering the paralysis it causes, today nearly everyone lives in a polio-free country. However, cases of polio have been recently reemerging worldwide, including in Malawi. There are several factors behind those outbreaks, including conflict and displacement, disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and vaccine hesitancy. With support from , a nationwide immunization campaign was launched in Malawi in March 2022 and its impact has been profound.  Since the vaccination drive began, about 9 million children in Malawi have received a polio vaccination. Find out more about the campaign .

partner Yemeni Women Union (YWU) acted on a rumour about an 8-year-old girl getting married, by getting a district lawyer to appoint a legal consultant to investigate Iman鈥檚 case. Many girls aren鈥檛 rescued the way Iman was. More than 650 million women and girls around the world today were married or in informal unions before age 18. Child marriage is a human rights violation driven by poverty and gender inequality, among other factors. Girls entering child marriages or early unions tend to drop out of school. Without an education, economic independence is near impossible.

Ten-year-old girls in Burkina Faso.

In 2022, we commemorate the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl Child. Today more than 1.1 billion girls are poised to take on the future. Every day, girls are breaking boundaries and barriers, tackling issues like child marriage, education inequality, violence, climate justice, and inequitable access to healthcare. Girls are proving they are unstoppable. On this day, it is time for us all to stand accountable 鈥 with and for girls 鈥 and to invest in a future that believes in their agency, leadership and potential.

Around 33 million people, including 16 million children, have been affected by this year鈥檚 torrential monsoon rains in Pakistan triggering the most severe flooding in the country鈥檚 recent history. Villages have been washed away leaving about 3.4 million children in need of assistance and at an increased risk of waterborne diseases, drowning and malnutrition. is helping deliver safe drinking water, medical supplies, therapeutic food supplies and hygiene kits to children and families. The 缅北禁地agency is establishing temporary learning centres and supporting the protection and psychosocial wellbeing of children affected by these devastating floods.