For every child, in every emergency
From wars, hunger, drought, to floods and earthquakes, global crises are threatening children’s lives, causing trauma and deep imprints that affect their health and wellbeing.
The Children’s Emergency Fund is a flexible resource that enables UNICEF teams on the ground to respond immediately to the urgent needs of children – wherever and whenever a humanitarian disaster strikes.
In 2023, UNICEF responded to 412 emergencies in 107 countries – but only a fraction of these emergencies made the news.
By providing flexible support, the Children’s Emergency Fund helps protect every child in every emergency.
Supply Division, based in Copenhagen, is the largest humanitarian warehouse in the world.
Always Ready to support Children in Emergencies
The sheer scale of UNICEF’s infrastructure and long-term development work around the world means that we are uniquely positioned to respond rapidly and effectively, no matter the crisis or location.
With a vast global procurement and distribution network, including the largest humanitarian warehouse in the world, UNICEF is equipped to respond to any crisis within 48 hours with lifesaving supplies and support.
Sustainable interventions are important because crises are not one-time shocks; their impact can last for years. UNICEF’s humanitarian action takes a cross-sectoral approach that includes health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), child protection, education, psychosocial support.
UNICEF in emergencies
In conflict and disaster, children suffer first and suffer most. During emergencies and humanitarian contexts, children are especially vulnerable. Children living in conflict areas are worst off – they are more likely to be living in extreme poverty or not enrolled in primary school.
The chaos and insecurity of war threatens or destroys access to food, shelter, social support and health care, and results in increased vulnerability in communities, especially for children. UNICEF focuses on these children and their families to provide them with the essential interventions.
UNICEF also works to strengthen the links between humanitarian action and development work. Our presence in many countries before, during and after emergencies, delivers a continuum of support. For example, the rehabilitation and upgrade of water and sanitation systems serve vulnerable households in both the immediate crisis and the longer term.
The Impact
In 2024, conflict, climate disasters, and displacement left 183.5 million children in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Many faced hunger, lost access to health-care and education, and saw their futures disrupted.
With the support of our partners, UNICEF responded — providing clean water to 41 million people, vaccinating 24.7 million children, treating malnutrition in over 109 million under-fives, and reaching millions more with education, protection, and mental health support. These achievements were made possible by the Children’s Emergency Fund.
The Children’s Emergency Fund enables UNICEF to:
How you can support
If you are interested in supporting or learning more about the Children’s Emergency Fund, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch using the details below or complete the online form and a member of our team will be in contact.
Philanthropy & Major Gifts
Should you or your family office wish to provide support, please contact Donna Marie O’Donovan, Head of Philanthropy at [email protected].
Corporate Partnerships
For businesses looking to support, contact Owen Buckley, Head of Corporate Partnerships at [email protected].
Donations by cheque can also be sent directly by post to:
UNICEF Ireland, 33 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1, D01 R283
Or by bank transfer using the details below:
Account Name: UNICEF Ireland
Bank Name: AIB
Bank Address: 7/12 Dame Street, Dublin 2
Account Number: 24070037
IBAN: IE37 AIBK 9333 8424 0700 37
BIC: AIBKIE2D