Every year 72,000 children under five die from illness linked to dirty water, compared with 3,400 from war-related violence. “The water tasted strange; it tasted odd … I felt like our boy was done” – Nabil. Yemen is one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Around 9.8 million children are suffering from the effects of … Continued

Around the world, millions of children are growing up in conflict. Caught in the crossfires of war, these children are uniquely vulnerable. They are often uprooted from home or exposed to extreme trauma. It is much harder for them to access healthcare or education. And too often, warring parties flout one of the most basic … Continued

Transforming lives with clean water Globally, a staggering 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, while almost half of the world’s population lacks access to proper sanitation facilities.  Additionally, an alarming 2 billion people lack basic handwashing facilities with soap, and approximately 419 million people perform open defecation.  Every day, over 700 children … Continued

Water means survival in Gaza, thanks to you! Thanks to your support, we can ensure all children in the Gaza Strip have access to safe clean water. Since the start of the conflict, we have been working tirelessly, despite the incredible challenges, to provide life-saving drinking water to as many people as possible. Right now, … Continued

It’s been six months since the escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip. Six months of bombs, attacks, thirst and hunger. And throughout this time, you, UNICEF’s wonderful donors, have been there for children in Gaza.  Despite the tough conditions, your donations helped deliver tonnes of humanitarian aid to children living across the enclave. It’s … Continued

2023 was one of the worst on record for climate change, bringing relentless droughts and intense storms and floods to children in countries like Somalia and South Sudan. Natural disasters like earthquakes in Turkey and Syria and floods in Libya devastated children’s lives in an instant. While conflicts in the State of Palestine, Ukraine, Syria, … Continued

During the evening of September 10th while children lay sleeping in their beds, catastrophic floods smashed into Libya. The happiness and wellbeing of 664,000 people were destroyed in an instant. As Storm Daniel raged and torrential rain hammered down, whole families were swept away, some still inside their homes. Entire neighbourhoods were lost. People clung … Continued

The search for survivors continues in Morocco after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake. Families in several cities in Morocco rushed out of their homes and into the streets after a powerful earthquake struck at 11:11 p.m on Sept. 8, 2023. A 4.9 magnitude aftershock followed 19 minutes later; several more have been reported. Buildings collapsed, leaving … Continued

For 30 years, Carlow woman Therese Dooley worked as one of UNICEF’s leading water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) specialists. Retired to her hometown, Therese reflects on her memories of a remarkable career, having worked in over 60 countries including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Haiti and South Asia, where she has seen at first hand the consequences … Continued

Thank you. Thank you for being a lifeline to millions of children around the world. Thank you for being there when they needed you most.  From clean water to warm clothing, life-saving food and psycho-social support, YOUR donations have helped children not only survive, but thrive.  In 2023 alone, this is what you achieved for … Continued

Did you know that Ireland has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world? While 63% of mums begin breastfeeding in hospital, only 15% of them are still breastfeeding by the time their baby reaches six months old. This means that the biggest drop-off in breastfeeding happens during the first weeks of a baby’s … Continued

When Disaster Struck in Syria On the 6th of February, children across Syria awoke to the sight and sound of their world’s crumbling around them. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake had struck the region, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.  Children’s homes and schools were destroyed. Their friends and family lost. Basic amenities like … Continued