All articles tagged with #unicef
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has expanded to new hot spots, with North Kivu reporting a 58% fatality rate. The virus has spread to half of the country's 34 health zones, and Kenya has confirmed its first case and death, believed to be imported from the DRC.
As Houthi forces intensify their offensive in Yemen, children in Taiz and other conflict zones face extreme dangers attending school, including sniper fire and mortar strikes. While 3.2 million children are out of school, humanitarian organizations and local educators are implementing emergency programs to keep students learning despite the collapse of infrastructure and safety.
Approximately 541,000 students in Gaza resumed in-person schooling on September 19, 2026, for the first time in nearly three years. The reopening occurs amid severe infrastructure damage, with 98% of schools destroyed or damaged, forcing many classes into tents and temporary structures. While the return marks a significant humanitarian milestone, it is complicated by acute shortages of basic supplies, ongoing Israeli military control of over 60% of the territory, and unresolved questions regarding the ideological content of the curriculum.
Actor Javier Bardem publicly endorsed a Change.org petition demanding the removal of singer Pink as a UNICEF ambassador. The campaign follows backlash over Pink’s repost of a critique regarding Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian performance during Ed Sheeran’s tour. The petition has gathered over 170,000 signatures, though it faces criticism from figures like Michael Rapaport and Selma Blair who argue the move is counterproductive and bullying.
Hundreds of thousands of students in Gaza have returned to in-person schooling for the first time in nearly three years, marking a fragile milestone in the territory’s recovery. The reopening, which began on September 19, 2026, occurs under severe constraints, with many children attending classes in makeshift tents or damaged buildings. While the return to routine offers hope, the educational environment remains precarious due to a lack of basic supplies, ongoing security threats, and the displacement of families who still occupy school buildings.
A Haitian gang released 13 hostages, including six children and seven women, after a deadly attack on the community of Kenscoff that killed at least 47 people. UNICEF facilitated the release, which included three toddlers and two teenagers, offering a rare moment of hope amidst widespread violence. The incident has triggered an emergency UN Security Council meeting, with diplomats urging faster deployment of international security forces to combat gang terror and protect civilians.
Schools have reopened in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola epicenter despite significant concerns from parents and teachers. This decision occurs as the outbreak has surpassed 6,000 cases, with containment measures like gathering limits and airport closures in place across six provinces. While health workers are being vaccinated to protect communities, the resumption of classes raises questions about balancing educational needs with public safety in high-risk areas.
Guinea-Bissau declared a national mpox outbreak in July, with seven confirmed and 46 suspected cases; more than half are children, including 16 under four, prompting UNICEF to warn that fragile health surveillance may hide ongoing transmission, while authorities and partners push door-to-door awareness and bolster frontline capacity amid broader infrastructure and political challenges; no deaths have been reported yet.
Jorge Messi, 68, Lionel Messi’s father and longtime adviser, died after an illness, with a Buenos Aires clinic confirming the death; UNICEF mourned his passing, and his health had been a topic during the 2026 World Cup.
Lionel Messi described the famous UNICEF baby photo with Lamine Yamal as 'crazy' as the 39-year-old faces the 19-year-old in the 2026 World Cup Final, underscoring Yamal’s rise, Messi's admiration, and the historic, highly anticipated clash in New Jersey.
Messi addressed the now-iconic 2007 UNICEF calendar photo of him bathing a months-old Lamine Yamal, calling the image “crazy” and noting the surreal future where they might face each other in the World Cup; he praised Yamal as one of the best in the world and reflected on the historic link between their careers as the tournament unfolds.
Argentina's Lionel Messi and Spain's Lamine Yamal—who once shared a bath for a UNICEF charity calendar—will clash in the 2026 World Cup final after Messi's late comeback win over England, marking a symbolic generational passing of the torch on football's biggest stage.
A toddler was pulled from the rubble in La Guaira six days after twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela, the only confirmed survivor found during ongoing rescues. The child, identified as Klieber Moran by Reuters, was rescued from the Los Corales Garden building by Jordanian rescuers with Venezuelan authorities and is receiving medical care. The disaster has killed more than 1,900 and injured over 10,000, as UN agencies warn of a growing humanitarian crisis; UNICEF delivered 47 metric tons of aid to help children and families, with about 680,000 children in need nationwide.
As Ebola cases rise toward 1,000, UNICEF estimates about 2.95 million children and adolescents in eastern DRC are at risk due to the outbreak and disrupted services; 135 Ituri children have been orphaned and are receiving protection as nurseries for unaccompanied kids begin operating. Malnutrition and low vaccination rates heighten risk, and UNICEF is seeking $70.7 million for a six‑month response (with $20 million unfunded) to sustain health, nutrition, immunisation, protection and other essential services.
UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Report warns that about 50% of the world’s children live with at least three overlapping climate hazards—such as heatwaves, droughts, floods and storms—putting health, education and safety at risk. More than a billion children face multiple threats, with the Sahel region and places like Italy highlighted for severe exposure; the agency urges action to strengthen health, education and infrastructure and to cut emissions so communities can better adapt and protect children’s futures.