UNICEF in the Field in Horn of Africa
April 12, 2012
Despite recent improvements emergency relief still needed in the Horn of Africa
The massive humanitarian response in the Horn of Africa in 2011 reversed the spread of famine and saved tens of thousands of children’s lives, but the outlook is increasingly worrisome and threatens the tentative gains achieved to date, according to a new UNICEF report. The “Response to the Horn of Africa emergency” report describes the UNICEF humanitarian operation in the six months after famine was declared in parts of Somalia and the need for sustained assistance in the critical months ahead for more than eight million people at risk.
December 15, 2011
UNICEF at 65: Looking back, thinking ahead
On December, 11 UNICEF celebrated its 65th anniversary. Created in 1946 from the residual resources from the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration to secure the fate of Europe’s children, few then imagined that it would still be in existence today. Principles of equity were part of UNICEF's guiding vision from the very day of its creation and form part of its mission statement.
December 8, 2011
Mobile school is the answer to a Turkana girl’s prayers
Rebecca Ekusi remembers what life was like before she came to UNICEF-supported Kalokutanyang Mobile School. She spent her days tending her family’s goats in the vast, semi-arid expanse of Turkana, north-western Kenya. But even while Rebecca was doing her part to sustain the household’s traditional pastoralist livelihood, she yearned to go to school one day. Then a prolonged regional drought set in and withered the pasturelands.
December 5, 2011
Health outreach saves lives in Turkana, north-west Kenya
Kakwanyang Dispensary is a half-hour drive from the nearest town, along the rutted dirt roads of sparsely populated Turkana County. It brings health services within reach of children and families who would otherwise have to walk four hours to the district hospital for care. The Kenyan Government set up the spare, two-room outreach centre with help from UNICEF and other partners in July.
December 3, 2011
Measles rates on the decline after successful vaccination campaign in Somalia
Since the initial campaign began in August, measles infections in Somalia have slowed down, still, the disease continues to be a concern in congested areas such as internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. Overall, measles cases have declined considerably, with 1,644 cases reported in October compared to 1,902 in September in south central regions.
November 27, 2011
Famine on the retreat in southern Somalia, millions still remain in need
UNICEF welcomes the news that famine is on the retreat in southern Somalia. Famine was declared in six areas of southern Somalia in July. According to the latest report from the United Nations’ Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit, famine has been beaten in three areas. UNICEF and its partners played a key role in the emergency response. Nearly ten thousand metric tons of supplies have been delivered to the region.
November 15, 2011
UNICEF concerned about the impact of the escalating conflict in Somalia
Increasing numbers of children and civilians are being caught in attacks and cross-fire across the south and center of Somalia. Over the last several weeks, there has been a very worrying rise in killings and serious injuries of children. According to the UN's monitoring and reporting mechanism for grave violations of children's rights, 24 children have been killed in the conflict in October, nearly double the number of child killings confirmed in every month this year.
November 9, 2011
Seasonal rains are a mixed blessing for parched north-eastern Kenya
The rain has begun on schedule in north-eastern Kenya, bringing the first real precipitation that many people in the semi-arid region have seen for months, if not years. But while eagerly anticipated, it’s both a blessing and a curse. Because the parched land can't absorb sudden downpours, there is an increased risk of flooding and waterborne disease.
November 7, 2011
UNICEF opens humanitarian warehouse in Dubai for supplies for southern Somalia
UNICEF announced the opening of its first humanitarian transit hub for nutrition supplies destined for Somalia. Situated in the port of Dubai, the new warehouse will help speed up the delivery of nutrition supplies to Somalia where famine has been declared in six southern regions. Up until now, sea routings have had to use the port of Mombasa exclusively as the gateway into the Horn of Africa.
November 2, 2011
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit UNICEF’s emergency supply center in Copenhagen
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a special visit to the UNICEF global Supply Center in Copenhagen to help maintain the world’s attention on the humanitarian crisis in East Africa, which has left more than 320,000 children so severely malnourished that they are at imminent risk of death unless they get urgent help.
