UNICEF’s Edward Bally reports on the return home of displaced Ivorian families who were forced to flee Côte d’Ivoire due to post- election violence. Reine Kpea Zehe, her husband and sister-in-law pack two heavy bags filled with cooking pans and clothes on to a small barge on the Liberian side of River Nuon, a 50-metre … Continued

This week schools have slowly started to re-open in Côte d’Ivoire’s largest city, Abidjan, and across the country. But many challenges remain. Report by Louis Vigneault  from ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, 29 April 2011. “Schools are slowly re-opening in the south, but many children and teachers are still absent where insecurity is persistent,” said UNICEF Education … Continued

For every SUNNAN solar cell lamp IKEA customers buy, one is donated from IKEA Foundation to UNICEF to give to children who cannot draw, write or read after sunset. Children in developing countries – especially girls – often struggle to keep up at school because their only opportunity to do homework is at night, after … Continued

Artists, youths, traditional and religious leaders, health personnel, volunteers and aid workers all joined the authorities and UNICEF to kick-off the measles vaccination campaign at an event on ‘Peace Plaza’ in the centre of the western city of Duékoué. After four and a half months of conflict, Côte d’Ivoire is finally getting back on its … Continued

DEHIBAT, Tunisia, 27 April 2011 – One month ago, Marwa, 11, was a fifth grade student at Nafousa school in western Libya, But when fighting came closer to her home in Nalut, schools closed and she was forced to stay home. Recent threats of shelling of her town left Marwa and her family with no … Continued

It was the screams that made Mr Mohamed jump. Shrieks and cries had become frighteningly familiar for those living in the western Libyan city of Misrata, but this was a singular scream. This was Mr Mohamed’s son. Field report from UNICEF Communication Specialist James Elder, in Benghazi. He ran to the roof where nine-year-old Mufteh … Continued

After weeks of virtual shutdown, Côte d’Ivoire’s economic capital Abidjan is slowly recovering and health centers are progressively reopening. The population stayed in their home for more than two weeks and due to shortage of staff, drugs and supplies, most health facilities in the city had to close. UNICEF has started to deliver basic kits … Continued

“This World Malaria Day – and every day – around 2,000 children will die from a mosquito bite,” said Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director. “We have effective measures to combat this deadly disease — and we must use them to save lives.” Malaria is the third single biggest killer of children globally. An estimated 800,000 … Continued

Defying the scorching sun, Barakaali Ali, a young twenty year-old mother, waits eagerly for her turn to collect the Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLIN) at her local distribution point in North Central Nigeria’s state of Nassarawa. “My son, Shuaibu has had malaria three times since he was born,” says Barakaali of her 10 month … Continued

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, 7 April 2011 – Little Moke is 4 years old and for the past 5 days he’s had fever and no appetite. “I am really worried; he doesn’t stop complaining about pain. Usually he plays all day long, but now he is totally listless,” explains Nsadisa, his 25 year old … Continued

Marceline Nguizaima, 38, lost three babies to malaria between 2008 and 2009, each before their first birthday. She still cries when she thinks about them, which is often.  “Children should be with their parents, they shouldn’t die,” she says, “they should be taken care of.” Marceline and her husband used to sleep under a mosquito … Continued

  A boat carrying UNICEF life-saving supplies has reached the port of Misrata in western Libya today. “Children in Misrata need urgent protection,” said Shahida Azfar, UNICEF RegionalmDirector for the Middle East and North Africa. “This latest batch of supplies will provide for their basic needs, but their long term recovery will only begin when … Continued