1.3 million children displaced by violence across region *NOTE* Download multimedia assets here  DUBLIN/NEW YORK/NIAMEY, 24 February 2017 – UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom this week travelled to Diffa, south-east Niger, to highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad Basin where Boko Haram violence has caused huge population displacements. Hundreds of thousands of … Continued

Statement attributable to Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF Regional Director, urging all parties at Geneva talks to put Syria’s children first “What if these were your children?” DAMASCUS/AMMAN, 23 February 2017 – “The heart-wrenching image of a young boy screaming for his father just minutes after losing both his legs in an apparent assault in Idlib last … Continued

*NOTE* UNICEF Ireland Executive Director Peter Power is available for interview *NOTE* For photos and video http://weshare.unicef.org/Package/2AMZIFDD22Q DUBLIN/NEW YORK/DAKAR/NAIROBI/AMMAN, 21 February 2017 – Almost 1.4 million children are at imminent risk of death from severe acute malnutrition this year, as famine looms in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen, UNICEF said today. “Time is running … Continued

20 February 2017, Dublin/Juba/South Sudan – War and a collapsing economy have left some 100,000 people facing starvation in parts of South Sudan where famine was declared today, three UN agencies warned. A further 1 million people are classified as being on the brink of famine. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations … Continued

Statement by UNICEF Regional Director Geert Cappelaere on reports of children killed and injured in Syria AMMAN, 10 February 2017 – ”Violence in Syria this week has reportedly killed at least 20 children and injured others in several areas across the war-torn country. “In Idlib earlier in the week, violence reportedly left 30 people dead, including … Continued

NEW YORK, 8 February 2017 – “We are saddened and outraged by the cruel killings today of six workers for the International Committee of the Red Cross in northern Afghanistan, and two workers for the Syrian Arab Red Crescent in Aleppo, Syria. “Our deepest sympathy is with the families of those who lost their lives, … Continued

Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin and UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake on the 2017 International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM NEW YORK, 6 February 2017 – “It irreparably damages girls’ bodies, inflicting excruciating pain. It causes extreme emotional trauma that can last a lifetime. “It increases the risk of deadly complications … Continued

Kyiv/Geneva, 6 February 2017 – Thousands of children have been forced out of school in eastern Ukraine due to last week’s surge in fighting. At least five schools and two kindergartens have been damaged by heavy shelling and 11 other schools have had to close, according to humanitarian organisations supporting the emergency education response in … Continued

Film available for download here: http://uni.cf/2knTBi3 *NOTE* Executive Director of UNICEF Ireland Peter Power is available for interview DUBLIN/NEW YORK, 3 February 2017 – A powerful new UNICEF film presenting the parallel stories of a young Syrian refugee and a World War II child refugee was released today as a stark illustration of the challenges … Continued

DUBLIN/KYIV/GENEVA – Following intense fighting over the last two days around the town of Avdiivka, Donetsk region, more than 17,000 people – including 2,500 children – are facing freezing weather without any heating, electricity or water. Six schools and four kindergartens have also closed in the area due to the violence, putting education on hold and children … Continued

As the intensity of violence decreases, children head back to school with UNICEF support DAMASCUS/AMMAN, 31 January 2017 – In the past weeks, UNICEF has supported the re-opening of 23 primary schools in the eastern parts of Aleppo city, allowing nearly 6,500 children to return to school. UNICEF has provided school supplies, developed an accelerated learning … Continued

Malnutrition poses “silent threat” to children, UNICEF’s 2017 appeal says   *NOTE* Executive Director of UNICEF Ireland Peter Power is available for interview DUBLIN/NEW YORK/GENEVA, 31 January 2017 – 48 million children living through some of the world’s worst conflicts and other humanitarian emergencies will benefit from UNICEF’s 2017 appeal, which was launched today. From … Continued