WHO and UNICEF call for immediate efforts to vaccinate all children as new data shows that, before the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine coverage stalled at 85 per cent for nearly a decade, with 14 million unvaccinated infants yearly In Ireland, rates for the first dose of measles vaccine fell in 2019 from 92 to 91 per … Continued

Securing healthy diets for the billions who cannot afford them would save trillions in costs Rome, 13 July 2020 – More people are going hungry, an annual study by the United Nations has found. Tens of millions have joined the ranks of the chronically undernourished over the past five years, and countries around the world … Continued

Groups representing students, parents and Guidance Counsellors join together to advocate for students  Dublin 01.07.2020 – COVID-19 poses serious threats to the Education Sector. ISSU, NPCPP, UNICEF and IGC are calling for an urgent and proactive response from the new Minister for Education, Norma Foley, to address the challenges ahead for students, parents/guardians, guidance counsellors and school staff … Continued

Statement attributable to Peter Power, Executive Director of UNICEF Ireland NOTE: THIS STATEMENT IS PARTNER TO THE EMBARGOED PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON YEMEN REPORT NOTE: PETER POWER IS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW Dublin 26.06.2020 –UNICEF has today warned that millions of children in Yemen will be pushed to “the brink of starvation” due to huge shortfalls in … Continued

Number of malnourished children could reach 2.4 million by end of year, a 20 per cent increase SANA’A/ADEN/AMMAN, 26 June 2020 – Millions of children in Yemen could be pushed to ‘the brink of starvation’ due to huge shortfalls in humanitarian aid funding amid the COVID-19 pandemic – according to a new UNICEF report marking … Continued

Statement attributable to Peter Power, Executive Director of UNICEF Ireland DUBLIN, 17.06.2020 – “The relocation of 8 unaccompanied and separated refugee and migrant children from the Greek Islands to Ireland today must be warmly welcomed. “These children, who have fled violence, conflict and poverty, survived dangerous journeys and stayed in dire conditions in crowded reception facilities, will … Continued

Calls to support frontline health workers and systems to increase children’s access to basic health services From Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Regional Director in the Middle East and North Africa and Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region AMMAN, 15 June 2020 – “The COVID-19 pandemic is putting health systems under unprecedented … Continued

UNICEF launches #Reimagine, a global campaign to prevent the pandemic from becoming a lasting crisis for children NOTE: Irish spokespersons are available for interview DUBLIN/NEW YORK, 13 MAY 2020 – An additional 6,000 children could die every day from preventable causes over the next six months as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to weaken health systems and … Continued

New funding request is $1 billion more than March appeal, as countries reel from socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 DUBLIN/NEW YORK, 12 May 2020 – UNICEF is appealing for US$1.6 billion to support its humanitarian response for children impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, up from $651.6 million requested in a similar appeal late March. This increase reflects … Continued

STATEMENT by Peter Power, Executive Director of UNICEF Ireland DUBLIN 07.05.20 – Executive Director of UNICEF Ireland, Peter Power, reacting to recent media reports on the abolition of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs said: “I am deeply concerned by recent media reports suggesting that the abolition of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs is being considered as … Continued

NEW YORK/PARIS/ROME, 30 April 2020 – UNESCO, UNICEF, WFP and World Bank today issued new guidelines on the safe reopening of schools amidst ongoing closures affecting nearly 1.3 billion students worldwide. The agencies also warned that the widespread closures of educational facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic present an unprecedented risk to children’s education … Continued

Climate activist calls on young people, other supporters, to encourage everyone to support UNICEF’s vital work to save children’s lives NEW YORK, 30 April 2020 – Climate activist Greta Thunberg today launched a child rights driven campaign with Danish NGO Human Act to support UNICEF’s efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic and protect children from … Continued