A World Food Programme (WFP) cargo ship carrying food, medical supplies, doctors and other relief items has docked in Misrata, opening up a new humanitarian lifeline to civilians trapped in the Libyan conflict. “This is a breakthrough for the UN humanitarian operation in Libya and allows us to reach tens of thousands of people who … Continued

The children’s eyes sparkled with excitement when the Japan Committee for UNICEF staff opened a box of early childhood development kits to reveal colourful toys and dolls at a shelter in earthquake-hit north-eastern Japan. Report by Mihoko Nakagawa The difference is remarkable. “These children had been hiding themselves from head to toe with a blanket … Continued

VIDEO: UNICEF’s Hala Abu Khatwa reports on the situation at the Egyptian border as thousands of families flee violence in Libya. Escaping the crisis in Libya, tens of thousands of families have been arriving at the Salloum crossing on the Egyptian border. Some have been travelling for days with little food and water as they … Continued

By 27 March 2011, an estimated 190,711 people had crossed the border into Tunisia to escape conflict in Libya. The conflict – which intensified with the launch of air strikes by an international coalition on 19 March – has also prompted 154,140 people to cross from Libya into Egypt, creating emergency conditions in all three … Continued

World marks international mine awareness day and calls for action Achievements have been made but landmines and explosive remnants of war continue to kill or injure thousands of people a year, United Nations officials say in observance of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. With high level interest in the … Continued

UNICEF staff in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire have been trapped in their offices for a second day, as forces loyal to President-elect Alassane Ouattara made an assault on the country’s commercial capital, Abidjan, in a bid to oust outgoing President Laurent Gbagbo and put an end to a political stalemate that has now lasted for four … Continued

UNICEF sets up sanitation facilities at transit camps on the Tunisia-Libya border. With no end in sight to the crisis in Libya, the daily influx of people into southern Tunisia continues as people flee over the border by car, bus and even on foot. Report by Roshan Khadivi VIDEO: UNICEF correspondent Priyanka Pruthi reports on … Continued

The devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit north-eastern Japan has left thousands of children without homes and in desperate need of essential supplies, medical and psychosocial support. By Mihoko Nakagawa Almost 10,000 people have died since the earthquake struck two weeks ago, with nearly 15,000 still missing. More than 260,000 people have been evacuated, including … Continued

  Thanks for joining Dustin, 2FM’s Jenny Green and Jenny Huston, and the rest of the fabulous UNICEF Mini-Marathon Team!  We’ve got a lot of great surprises in store for you as we get ready to strut our stuff on June Bank Holiday Monday, (June 6th) to help raise money for UNICEF programmes that will … Continued

Samia (not her real name), 7, is holding hands with other children as they move in a circle, singing a song in a child-friendly centre located in a medium size tent in the Shousha transit camp. Report by Roshan Khadivi Before the unrest in Libya began almost a month ago, Samia and her parents lived … Continued

The 9.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on March 11, triggered a devastating tsunami and, in turn, a near meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The death toll is estimated at more than 9,400, almost 15,000 people remain unaccounted for, and some 300,000 are homeless in freezing temperatures. This report from Chris Niles, UNICEF. … Continued

UNICEF Representative in Tunisia Maria-Luisa Fornara visited the Shousha transit camp on the Tunisia-Libya border today to review the emergency response to the crisis in Libya. Report by Dan Bhayi and Roshan Khadivi She also met with families affected by the ongoing conflict. “We have teams and supplies in place and have been successful in … Continued