September 2016 - The Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF

On 30 April 2016 in Yemen, humanitarian aid supplies arrive at the port of Hodeidah.

USING MOBILE HEALTH TEAMS TO SAVE LIVES OF CHILDREN IN YEMEN AS CONFLICT SURGES

© UNICEF/UN026931/Alayyashi Sana’a, Yemen/HONG KONG, 30 September 2016 – UNICEF and its partners have completed an ambitious drive to reach children and women in Yemen with critical health and nutrition services to save lives as the conflict continues. The campaign from 24-29 September was carried out across the country to reach more than 600,000 children under 5 […]

Mataram (yellow veil) and a boy pump water from a water hole installed by UNICEF in a displaced people camp in Garin Wazam, Niger on August 10, 2016. Garin Wazam is located 55km east of Diffa town and currently host an estimated 22,800 individuals, refugees, internally displaced and host community according to the authorities of Niger. Most of them are Peul, Boudouma and Haoussa and come from Bosso, Yebi and Toumour, having arrived end of May, beginning of June 2016 after Boko Haram attacks. Since July 22th, Garin Wazam now has 6 new boreholes constructed by ACTED with UNICEF support. Before that, the water supply was made possible thanks to water trucking only.

Boko Haram attacks have caused a population displacement and security crisis in the Diffa region. Today, Diffa hosts an estimated 300,000 displaced people (including Nigerian refugees, Nigerien returnees from Nigeria and IDPs), many settled along the RN1, the main road crossing the region. This number includes an estimated 69,000 newly displaced people as a result of the May and June 2016 attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram in Bosso, Yebi and Kablewa. The newly displaced settled on existing sites, putting an enormous pressure on the temporary health facilities in place on the various RN1 sites.UNICEF works to increase access to safe water through the construction/rehabilitation/improvement of water points, installation of emergency water supply devices and water trucking. The agency also promote adequate hygiene practices, distribute water purification products and soap and collaborate with partners to increase access to sanitation facilities in the sites for displaced people and strengthen maintenance and management of water points with implementation and training of committees.

UNICEF more than doubles its funding appeal to provide life-saving assistance for children in northeast Nigeria

Emergency Relief, Famine Crisis, Global News, Latest News, Nigeria Crisis 17:51

© UNICEF/UN029101/Phelps ABUJA/DAKAR/NEW YORK/HONG KONG, 29 September 2016 – UNICEF has revised its humanitarian appeal for Nigeria from approx. HK$429 million (US$ 55 million) to approx. HK$897 million (US$ 115 million) to assist an additional 750,000 people who can now be reached across conflict-affected areas in the northeast of the country. As new areas open up […]

On 24 August 2016 in the Syrian Arab Republic, two children walk arm in arm down a war damaged street in Aleppo.

By end August 2016, children continue to bear the brunt of the latest surge in violence in Aleppo. In the eastern part of Aleppo, around 100,000 children remain trapped since early July. Water has ceased flowing through the public network, as the generator that operates the main water pumping station needs urgent repairs. UNICEF does not have safe access to provide the urgent humanitarian assistance needed in the area.

In the western part of Aleppo, an estimated 35,000 people were displaced when new waves of fighting hit the al-Hamadaniyah neighbourhood. Already displaced by the war and living in half-built apartment towers, again families had to flee and leave everything behind. Most families are currently staying in informal shelters such as schools and mosques as well as in parks and on the streets. UNICEF trucks in water daily for 300,000 of the most vulnerable people including newly displaced families in informal shelters. The main electricity network that powers pumping stations sustained damage in recent fighting. UNICEF supports the delivery of fuel to operate generators for water pumping stations and groundwater wells that provide safe drinking water to around 1.2 million people.

“The murder of the innocents in Aleppo must stop” – UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake

Global News, Latest News 14:41

© UNICEF/UN029861/Zayat NEW YORK/HONG KONG, 29 September 2016 – “In Aleppo, 96 children killed and 223 children injured in merciless attacks this week alone. Each one, a daughter or a son. “Doctors forced to let some children die while saving others with scarce medical supplies. “Tens of thousands of children drinking dirty water because a […]

Cathay Pacific Group raises HK$20 Million in 2015 to support deprived children worldwide and disaster recovery in Nepal

HK News, Latest News, Press Release 15:13

© UNICEF HK/2016 HONG KONG, 28 September 2016 – The Cathay Pacific Group and the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF HK) today announced that close to HK$20 million was raised from passengers through the Change for Good inflight fundraising programme and the Group’s staff appeal during the 2015 programme period. Of the total donation, […]

On 10 August 2016 in the Syrian Arab Republic, a displaced child from al-Hamadaniyah neighbourhood in the western part of Aleppo, now stays at a school turned into a shelter.

By end August 2016, children continue to bear the brunt of the latest surge in violence in Aleppo. In the eastern part of Aleppo, around 100,000 children remain trapped since early July. Water has ceased flowing through the public network, as the generator that operates the main water pumping station needs urgent repairs. UNICEF does not have safe access to provide the urgent humanitarian assistance needed in the area.

In the western part of Aleppo, an estimated 35,000 people were displaced when new waves of fighting hit the al-Hamadaniyah neighbourhood. Already displaced by the war and living in half-built apartment towers, again families had to flee and leave everything behind. Most families are currently staying in informal shelters such as schools and mosques as well as in parks and on the streets. UNICEF trucks in water daily for 300,000 of the most vulnerable people including newly displaced families in informal shelters. The main electricity network that powers pumping stations sustained damage in recent fighting. UNICEF supports the delivery of fuel to operate generators for water pumping stations and groundwater wells that provide safe drinking water to around 1.2 million people.

Children in Aleppo trapped in “living nightmare” – UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Justin Forsyth

Global News, Latest News, Syria Crisis 12:36

© UNICEF/UN029871/Al-Issa NEW YORK/HONG KONG, 28 September 2016 – At least 96 children have been killed and 223 have been injured in Eastern Aleppo since Friday, UNICEF said. “The children of Aleppo are trapped in a living nightmare,” said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Justin Forsyth. “There are no words left to describe the suffering they […]

Statement attributable to Hanaa Singer, UNICEF Representative in Syria, on attacks and deliberate water cuts in Aleppo

Global News, Latest News, Syria Crisis, Water Sanitation & Hygiene 12:26

DAMASCUS/HONG KONG, 23 September 2016 – “Nearly 2 million people in Aleppo are once again with no running water through the public network. “Intense attacks last night have damaged the Bab al-Nayrab water pumping station which supplies water to some 250,000 people in the eastern parts of Aleppo. Violence is preventing repair teams from reaching […]

At 14 Sengeso Maseko(left) has overcome her fear of the night and become her sister and brothers keeper, here she is seen doing household chores with her younger sister Sandiswe(6) in this Thursday August, 25, 2016 photo in Nkwana Village, Bullilima District in Matebeland South Province.The mother of the children ran away leaving the family to be taken care of by Sengeso who is now heading the family.The Masekos are among the more than four millon Zimbabweans that the government says will need food aid assistance following the El Nino enduced drought that struck the Southern African Nation.The government, UN agencies including UNICEF and other donors are appealing for millions of dollars in emergence support to assist stricken families.UNICEF Zimbabwe says its funding gap remains above US $19 million.

In Zimbabwe, a sharp rise in children needing assistance as El Niño bites

El Niño, Emergency Relief, Global News, Latest News 12:13

© UNICEF/UN032917/Mukwazhi HARARE/HONG KONG, September 22, 2016 –The 2015-2016 El Niño has devastated crops and decimated livestock in Zimbabwe, however its toll on children and their well-being is only now beginning to be felt. In a sign of increasing stress among children, data from the UNICEF supported Child Protection Fund, which tracks welfare and protection […]

On 21 March, children queue to hand over their weapons and uniforms during a ceremony formalizing their release from the South Sudan Democratic Army (SSDA) Cobra Faction armed group, in the remote village of Lekuangole, in Jonglei State.

On 21 March 2015 in South Sudan, up to 250 children including four girls, one as young as 9 were released today from the South Sudan Democratic Army (SSDA) Cobra Faction armed group. Another 400 are being released over the next two days. The release happened in the remote village of Lekuangole, in Jonglei State. It is the third release of children following a peace deal between the Faction and the Government. The Governments National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (NDDRC) and UNICEF are working together to care for the children and reintegrate them in their communities. The Cobra Faction has advised UNICEF that they have up to 3,000 children in their armed group. In a ceremony led by the NDDRC formalizing the childrens release, the children exchanged their weapons and uniforms for civilian clothing. UNICEF then took responsibility for looking after the children at an interim care centre in the village, where they are being provided with food, shelter and medical care. UNICEF and partners will begin the process of tracing their families and, where necessary, providing psychosocial support.

The United Nations welcomes the release of 21 child soldiers by the Government of Sudan

Global News, Latest News 11:58

© UNICEF/UNI181541/McKeever KHARTOUM/HONG KONG, 22 September 2016 – The United Nations welcomes the release yesterday by the Government of Sudan of twenty one children allegedly associated with armed groups. These children, who have been in the custody of the government security forces, were captured during fighting between the Government of Sudan and the Justice and […]

Preventing measles and rubella in Namibia’s remote communities

Global News, Latest News, Vaccines 15:05

© UNICEF Namibia/2016/Mutseyekwa Jackson and Rosemary sit with their three grandchildren. The children were among the earliest to be vaccinated against measles and rubella during Namibia’s vaccination campaign. By Tapuwa Loreen Mutseyekwa Like hundreds of men and women in the Zambezi region of Namibia, Jackson and Rosemary Muhanda make their living off of Lake Liambezi. […]

UNICEF statement on the New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants

Global News, Latest News, Social Inclusion 11:54

NEW YORK/HONG KONG, 19 September 2016 – “The New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants represents a first step in addressing the unprecedented level of human mobility the world is facing. “The Declaration outlines a more comprehensive, predictable and sustainable response to forced displacement, and a system of governance for international migration. Its emphasis on […]