Delayed breastfeeding increases risk of newborn deaths by up to 80 per cent  800,000 lives would be saved every year if babies were breastfed to 6 months   *Download broadcast quality photos and video*   DUBLIN/NEW YORK, 2 AUGUST 2016 – Some 77 million newborns – or 1 in 2 – are not put to … Continued

*Multimedia assets can be downloaded here: http://uni.cf/2aIxf9J* LONDON/ERBIL, 2 August 2016 – UNICEF Ambassador Ewan McGregor travelled to northern Iraq last week to see how the conflicts sweeping across Iraq and Syria are devastating children’s lives. Tens of thousands of children have been killed, injured, separated from their parents, forced to work, tortured and recruited … Continued

UNICEF statement on attack on humanitarian convoy in northeastern Nigeria NEW YORK, 28 July 2016 – Today unknown assailants attacked a humanitarian convoy that included staff from UNICEF, UNFPA and IOM. The convoy was traveling from Bama to Maiduguri in Borno State, Nigeria, returning from delivering desperately needed humanitarian assistance. UNICEF can confirm that a … Continued

Statement attributable to Hanaa Singer, UNICEF Syria Representative, on attacks in Qamishli and Idlib Damascus, 28 July 2016 – UNICEF deplores yesterday’s shocking attack which reportedly killed more than 50 people, including many children, in the northern Syrian city of Qamishli. Local hospitals are overwhelmed treating more than 150 injured people. UNICEF is informed that … Continued

DUBLIN/AMMAN, 27 July 2016 – Four hospitals in eastern Aleppo city – al-Dakkak, al-Bayan, al-Hakim and al-Zahraa – and a blood blank were reportedly hit several times on 23 and 24 July disrupting key life-saving health services for up to 300,000 civilians. According to reports, a two-day-old baby died in his incubator due to interruptions … Continued

Statement attributable to Hanaa Singer, UNICEF representative in Syria on the killings of children in northern Syria DAMASCUS, 20 July 2016 – “This week in Syria, more than 20 children were reportedly killed in air strikes in Manbij and a 12-year-old boy was brutally murdered on-camera in Aleppo. “Such horrific incidents confront parties to this … Continued

This statement is attributable to Anju Malhotra, UNICEF Principal Gender Advisor DUBLIN/NEW YORK, 20 July, 2016 – “The reported gang rape of a young Dalit woman in India by the same five men who had raped her three years ago underlines the heinous culture of impunity that surrounds violence against girls and women. “Approximately 120 … Continued

JUBA, South Sudan, July 14, 2016 – UNICEF and our partners are providing urgent life-saving assistance to thousands of people displaced by last weekend’s heavy fighting in Juba, South Sudan. Four trucks of supplies were dispatched from UNICEF warehouses and taken to a UN displacement site in Juba as soon as movement became possible in … Continued

NAIROBI, 9 July 2016 – UNICEF is deeply alarmed by the renewed violence in South Sudan and calls on all parties to respect humanitarian principles and provide unrestricted access to civilians in need. After nearly three years of war, civilians are bearing the brunt of the conflict in South Sudan, with women and children facing … Continued

Photos, BROLL video and report available for download here: http://uni.cf/29w1son Major new UNICEF report shows: In Ethiopia, 10.2 million people, including 6 million children face severe food insecurity – half a million children face starvation. El Niño weather event is over, for now, but its impact on children is set to worsen as disease and … Continued

Call to protect children, as escalating conflict threatens to destroy childhoods in Iraq *NOTE* Photos and video are available for download here: http://uni.cf/291HUId BAGHDAD/AMMAN, 30 June 2016 3.6 million children in Iraq – one in five in the country – are at serious risk of death, injury, sexual violence, abduction and recruitment into armed groups, according … Continued

Inequality is the key barrier to children’s progress: UNICEF Major new report predicts 750 million child brides by 2030. Making the right choices now can, and will, reverse their fate, new UNICEF report says. Download a PDF of the report: SOWC2016 report UNI203967 Dublin, 28 June 2016 – Today, UNICEF will publish its Annual Flagship … Continued