Sign up

Why subscribe?

UNICEF flagship report: children in 28 countries face exceptional crises

Chris Niles, UNICEF

A displaced girl queues for food in Pakistan. | © UNICEF/NYHQ2009-0565/Ramoneda

© UNICEF/NYHQ2009-0565/Ramoneda

A displaced girl queues for food at Chota Lahore camp in North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan. UNICEF's Humanitarian Action Appeal 2010 requests $1.16 billion to assist tens of millions of emergency-affected children and their families.  

UNICEF correspondent Chris Niles reports on the findings of the UNICEF Humanitarian Action Report 2010.

media_real.gif Low | High  

NEW YORK (February 5, 2010) — As much of the international community continues to focus attention on the disaster in Haiti, UNICEF's flagship Humanitarian Action Report emphasizes the critical role of partnerships in assisting vulnerable children and families caught in crisis situations worldwide.

The Humanitarian Action Report, launched today, is UNICEF's only publication dealing specifically with the needs of children and women in emergencies. It spotlights crises that require exceptional support, and additional funding, to save lives and protect children from harm in an increasingly challenging humanitarian environment.

This year's report—subtitled "Partnering for children in emergencies"—says the world is seeing crises exacerbated by larger trends, such as climate change and the international financial downturn, that are beyond the capacity of any one agency to address.

» View Humanitarian Action Appeal 2010 photo essay

Unprecedented challenges

Survivors of Haiti's devastating earthquake camp near the ruined presidential palace. | © UNICEF/NYHQ2010-0022/LeMoyne

© UNICEF/NYHQ2010-0022/LeMoyne

Survivors of Haiti's devastating January 12 earthquake camp near the ruined presidential palace. Natural disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean now affect up to 10 million people annually.

"The number of children affected by humanitarian disasters and crises, by hunger and malnutrition, is increasing significantly," said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Hilde F. Johnson. "Children are put at grave risk. It's unprecedented."

At the same time, armed conflict continues to blight the lives of millions of children.

"In countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, DR Congo and Sudan, emergencies are becoming more and more complex," Johnson noted. "Children are subject to abuse and grave violations of their rights. This includes sexual violence, killing and maiming, and forced recruitment into armed groups."

Ensuring children's rights

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a woman shelters other families in a zone plagued by sexual violence. | © UNICEF/NYHQ2008-1312/Asselin

© UNICEF/NYHQ2008-1312/Asselin

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a woman shelters other families in a zone plagued by sexual violence. In West and Central Africa, humanitarian crises are exacerbated by poverty and high food prices.

The new Humanitarian Action Report emphasizes the need to ensure that all children's rights are secured in a world that has just celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

To that end, the report appeals for nearly $1.2 billion in international donor funding for emergency-response efforts in 28 countries covering six regions—from Eastern Europe to Africa to Asia to Latin America. The funding will be used to support a greater emphasis on emergency preparedness, early warning, disaster risk reduction and rapid recovery.

The report points out that UNICEF—working with communities, governments and civil society organizations—is developing new approaches to help vulnerable nations prepare for threats and respond to emergencies quickly and effectively.

"The crises that we now face are unparalleled," said Johnson. "It's only by working with and through partners that we can deliver on our mission: to protect children in crises, respond to their needs and help fulfill their rights."

 

send icon
WHAT YOUR MONEY CAN BUY


$6 can provide three 10-liter collapsible water containers for transporting and storing water.

$60 can provide 20 sheets of tarpaulin, providing simple shelter or ground sheeting for several families.

$200 can provide one recreation kit for 90 children to enjoy physical activity and play in times of emergency or displacement—containing items such as frisbees, jump ropes, footballs, volleyballs, handballs, whistles, a chalkboard and chalk, etc.

Believe in Zero

Fieldnotes Blog

RSS

September 1, 2010

UNICEF High School Clubs - what a great way to start the school year

Full Post

August 31, 2010

Caryl Stern - "our only cause is children."

Full Post

August 30, 2010

Monday photo: First day of school in Madagascar

Full Post

 COMMUNITY- FacebookCOMMUNITY- TwitterCOMMUNITY-YouTubeCOMMUNITY-Flickr