Press centre

Press releases and news notes

Children on the Brink 2004 - Global orphan numbers would be falling without AIDS
BANGKOK, THAILAND, 13 July 2004 - By 2010, sub-Saharan Africa will be home to an estimated 50 million orphaned children, and more than a third will have lost one or both parents to AIDS, according to a biennial report on global orphaning released today by USAID, UNAIDS and UNICEF.

UNICEF identifies key steps to save "Tsunami Generation"
JAKARTA, 4 January 2005 – Two days ahead of a global conference here to coordinate aid for the countries devastated by tsunamis, UNICEF today proposed four fundamental priorities for children that the agency said are essential to the overall success of the relief effort.

UNICEF launches $144.5 million appeal
NEW YORK, 6 January 2005 - UNICEF is seeking $144.5 million to support urgent humanitarian aid for the estimated 1.5 million affected children in South Asia, many of which have been orphaned or separated from their families and are in critical need of basic care and support. UNICEF has estimated that children account for more than one-third of tsunami deaths.

UNICEF supports immunization campaign in Tamil Nadu and Kerala
DELHI, 2 January 2005 – UNICEF is supporting the Governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala to launch a measles and Vitamin A immunization campaign targeting children affected by the tsunami disaster. 100,000 children in Tamil Nadu and 15,000 children in Kerala will be immunized as part of the emergency operation over a one-week period.

Bellamy to visit Tsunami zone
NEW YORK, 1 January 2005 – UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy begins a five-day tour of the worst-affected tsunami zones this weekend, where she will survey the needs of hundreds of thousands of children and assess the UNICEF relief efforts to date.

Effort to identify unaccompanied children begins
NEW YORK, 31 December 2004 – UNICEF said today it is concerned that children throughout the tsunami-devastated region have been orphaned or separated from their families and are in critical need of basic care and support.

From India: UNICEF distributes rehydration salts to treat diarrhoea
DELHI, 31 December 2004 – UNICEF is launching a fleet of mobile vans across three disaster-hit districts of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry this New Year’s weekend to help families in relief camps prevent and treat any outbreak of diarrhoea, especially among children.

From Indonesia: First UNICEF relief arrives in Indonesia
JAKARTA, 31 December 2004 - Emergency medical kits for 200,000 victims of the Boxing Day Earthquake and tsunami arrived in Jakarta airport today on route to Sumatra tomorrow.

Hundred of schools damaged in the Maldives
MALE, MALDIVES, 31 December 2004 - Hundreds of schools in the Maldives are now known to have been damaged by the Asian tsunami that struck the archipelago.

ATP commits $25,000 to UNICEF relief effort
CHENNAI, INDIA, 31 December 2004 – Tournament organizers of the Chennai Open have joined with the ATP to commit financial support to relief efforts benefiting victims of the tsunami which has devastated Southern Asia. The ATP, governing body of the international men’s professional tennis circuit, will donate the $25,000 sanction fee for the tournament and direct it in full to UNICEF emergency relief efforts in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, of which Chennai is the capital.

Latest headlines on the tsunami crisis this hour

After the torrents, the next threat is standing water
NEW YORK, 29 December 2004 – UNICEF warned today that without immediate, wide-scale action to provide safe water in the communities hit by Sunday’s massive ocean flooding, millions of people will be at grave risk of water-borne disease.

UNICEF calls for aid to tsunami-struck countries
NEW YORK, 27 December 2004 – UNICEF is rushing relief assistance to the countries hardest hit by massive ocean flooding following Sunday’s earthquake, working to meet the urgent needs of hundreds of thousands of people who survived the tsunamis but now need shelter, water, medical supplies and other urgent assistance.

Bellamy: UNICEF ready to respond to quake victims in South Asia
UNICEF country offices circling the Indian Ocean are assessing damage from the Sumatra earthquake that touched off a series of tsunamis early today, killing thousands of people and leaving hundreds of thousands of children and their families in jeopardy.

Cote D’Ivoire gets emergency measles vaccination over Christmas
ABIDJAN, 23 December 2004 – A measles vaccination campaign for some 20,000 children in the central Ivorian sub-prefecture of Prikro kicked off today and will continue through 26 December. 

For Afghan children, learning continues throughout winter vacation
KABUL, 23 December 2004 – While Afghanistan’s formal schools are mostly closed for the winter, and most children in the industrialized world are also enjoying a vacation, nearly 50,000 students in six provinces of Afghanistan are continuing to benefit from education, through a community-based initiative led by the Afghan Ministry of Education with support from UNICEF.

One year on, children of Bam still face challenges - Alert to broadcasters
NEW YORK/ BAM, IRAN,  26 December 2004 -  One year after the devastating earthquake in Bam, Iran, that took more than 30,000 lives, left some 80,000 people homeless and reduced the city to rubble and dust, the well-being of the children of the city must be the government’s top priority, UNICEF said today.

The world's broken promise to our children
OP-ED, 18 December 2004 - In an op-ed for the Boston Globe, UNICEF Executive Carol Bellamy writes about the more than one billion children suffering extreme deprivations from poverty, war, and HIV/AIDS, the need for policy change and the need for greater investment in the services that mean the most to children.

Buddhist art promotes compassion for people living with HIV/AIDS
VIENTIANE, 20 December 2004 –Over this year’s festive season in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Buddhist monks will be encouraging the Lao people to show love, sympathetic joy, compassion and equanimity to all, including those living with HIV.

Combating sexual exploitation and abuse of children: let the real work now begin
RABAT, 14 December, 2004 - The message from the opening session of the second Arab-African Forum against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children was clear.

Child soldier demobilization shows results in Afghanistan
KABUL, 16 December 2004 – As the first full year of the UNICEF-supported demobilization and reintegration programme for former child soldiers draws to a close in Afghanistan, nearly 4,000 children have now been demobilized.

Carol Bellamy on the £44 Million DFID assistance to fund children affected by HIV/AIDS
WASHINGTON DC , 16 December 2004 -- We are deeply grateful to the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID) for providing £44 million to UNICEF for programmes to support children affected by AIDS.

UK government gives over $85 million to UNICEF for children affected by HIV/AIDS
WASHINGTON DC, 16 December 2004 - Press conference announcing groundbreaking donation of £44 million UK sterling to support orphans and children affected by AIDS

The State of the World's Children: Childhood under threat
LONDON, 9 DECEMBER 2004 – Despite the near universal embrace of standards for protecting childhood, a new UNICEF report shows that more than half the world’s children are suffering extreme deprivations from poverty, war and HIV/AIDS, conditions that are effectively denying children a childhood and holding back the development of nations.

Nigeria to lead the way in girls' education
Abuja/New York, 8 December 2004 – One of the world’s largest girls’ education projects will be launched tomorrow in Nigeria, supported by a $50 million grant from the UK Government.

Philippines: Child survivors of typhoons face serious threats
MANILA, 7 December 2004 - UNICEF announced today that child survivors of the recent typhoons now face serious threats, as the most vulnerable group in times of disasters.

Nelson Mandela Foundation and UNICEF announce joint international education campaign
CAPE TOWN, 6 December 2004 - The Nelson Mandela Foundation, UNICEF and the Hamburg Society for the Promotion of Democracy and International Law, today launched a joint international campaign “Child Friendly Schools for Africa”, which aims to accelerate access to quality basic education for children, with special focus on girls, orphans and vulnerable children in six African countries, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Philippines: UNICEF makes urgent appeal for typhoon devastation
GENEVA/MANILA, 3 December 2004 - UNICEF is making an urgent appeal for US$800,000 to meet the needs of children and families suffering from the devastation inflicted by a recent succession of tropical depressions and typhoons.

Landmines pose gravest risk for children
NAIROBI/NEW YORK/GENEVA, 2 December 2004 – Millions of antipersonnel landmines and other explosive remnants of war across the globe pose a vicious threat to children, who are being injured, killed and orphaned by them long after wars are over, UNICEF said today.

UNICEF calls for joint effort to support integration of disabled Afghans
KABUL, 2 December 2004 – Public perceptions of disabled Afghans will be in the spotlight today, with the presentation of preliminary findings from a new report on the issue commissioned by UNICEF and CDAP.

UN agencies urge focus on women and HIV in Latin America
PANAMA CITY, 30 November 2004 – Women represent the fastest growing segment of the population living with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean, and new efforts are urgently needed to halt the spread of the epidemic in the female population, representatives of ten United Nations agencies said today.

Bellamy to launch ‘The State of the World’s Children 2005’ with Goodwill Ambassador Vanessa Redgrave in London
LONDON/NEW YORK, 6 December 2004 - The State of the World’s Children is UNICEF’s annual flagship publication.  It is the most comprehensive survey of global trends affecting children. This year’s launch will be UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy’s tenth. Childhood today is under threat for more than 1 billion children. Poverty, conflict, and HIV/AIDS are among the most serious threats undercutting childhood across the globe.

UNICEF, ECLAC step up efforts to promote child rights
PANAMA 24 November 2004.- The UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and UNICEF have agreed to step up collaboration to promote inclusive, universal and efficient public policies for children and adolescents.

Bellamy to address World Summit on a Mine Free World
NAIROBI/MEDIA ADVISORY, 29 November 2004  - Mr. Malloch Brown, Ms. Bellamy and Nikola will hold a joint press conference during the World Summit on a Mine Free World in Nairobi on 2 December, 2004.

Danny Glover visits mine-affected Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA, 27 November 2004.  -  UNICEF’s new Goodwill Ambassador, Danny Glover, on his first visit to Ethiopia, today called on the three nations that continue to stockpile anti-personnel mines, to ratify the Mine Ban Treaty immediately.

Women in armed conflict at extreme risk of sexual violence
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 25 November 2004 – “The systematic use of rape as a weapon of war is a violation of human rights that demands urgent attention and an end to impunity,” UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy said today.

Bellamy speaks out for children in Iraq
NEW YORK, 23 November 2004 – UNICEF today again expressed deep concern about the devastating impact the hostilities in Iraq is having on the overall well-being of the country’s children.

Parliamentarians in the Arab world: Champions for child rights
AMMAN, 23 November 2004 - More than 50 members of Arab parliaments adopted on Tuesday the Amman Declaration and Plan of Action for Arab children; these are a result of two-day discussions around various child-related issues which concluded in the Jordanian capital today.

UNICEF congratulates media code of conduct on reporting on children's issues
ANTANANARIVO,  20 November 2004    On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of  the signing of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, professionals from  TV, radio and the print media in Madagascar, gathered together, after two  days  of  intense  discussions, to sign a code of professional conduct related to reporting on child rights issues.

Despite progress, children’s rights far from universal
NEW YORK, 20 November 2004 - On the 15th anniversary today of the international adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy said that despite major advancements for children that include the creation of new laws in many countries, the rights of millions of children remain forgotten or ignored.

Statement on the apparent death of Margaret Hassan, CARE director Iraq
NEW YORK, 17 November 2004 - We are grieved to hear of the apparent terrible death of humanitarian worker Margaret Hassan in Iraq, and we offer our sympathy to her family, friends, and colleagues.

Africa stakes the end of polio on mass immunization drive, but conflict halts campaign In Cote d’Ivoire
DAKAR/HARARE, 18 November 2004 - At a crucial stage of the global polio eradication effort, the second round in a series of massive cross-border polio immunizations starts this week in 24 African countries.

Effort to protect Darfur's children is failing
GENEVA/NEW YORK, 18 November 2004 - UNICEF said today that reports of violence against women and children, in and around Darfur's camps for civilians displaced by fighting, seems to be increasing rather than diminishing.

World’s children unite to take action on HIV/AIDS
NEW YORK, 18 November 2004 - Millions of children around the world will participate in a Lesson for Life on World AIDS Day (1 December) as part of a massive effort to educate children about HIV/AIDS prevention and spur them, their communities and governments to accelerate action on behalf of children and young people affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis.

New Afghan leadership urged to put children first
KABUL, 18 November 2004 – On Saturday 20 November, the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Afghanistan’s children will ask their newly elected leaders to put child rights top of the agenda, with the presentation of a new Children’s Manifesto for Afghanistan.

Better bednets provide new hope in reducing malaria
ARUSHA, TANZANIA, 17 November 2004 – New technologies for malaria prevention and treatment, combined with an increase in available funding, are fuelling optimism in the fight against malaria.

Fighting back against polio in Nigeria
ABUJA, November 16 2004 - Every child must be reached during the upcoming National Immunization Day (NID) in Nigeria which kicks off on 20 November.

Healing Beslan's wounds
GENEVA, 16 November, 2004. UNICEF has announced plans for a new programme to promote peace and tolerance across the troubled North Caucasus.

Children: the new media consumer in Madagascar
ANTANARIVO, 15 November 2004 - A study, launched today, by the Minister of Communication and the National Statistics Institute, in the presence of government officials, UN agencies and the nation’s media, revealed that 76% of all households in the country listen to the radio; 32 percent watch TV and 27 percent read newspapers.

Children’s rights threatened in Cote d’Ivoire violence

Children's rights threatened in Cote d'Ivoire violence
DAKAR, 12 November 2004 - UNICEF concerned about reports that children have been involved in recent street violence in Abidjan and elsewhere in Cote d’Ivoire.

UNICEF provides safe water facilities in conflict-affected Uganda
MEDIA ADVISORY, 15 November 2004 - UNICEF has collaborated with the Government of Uganda and AMREF to provide safe water and sanitation facilities for the vulnerable populations of IDP camps in conflict-affected north and north-eastern Uganda.  The camps are home to an estimated 1.4 million people, 80 per cent of whom are children and women.

UNICEF salutes two great games, one great cause
MIAMI, PANAMA CITY, PORT-AU-PRINCE, 12 November 2004 – UNICEF cheered the thousands of soccer fans, two teams and partners as the 1994 Brazil World Cup reunion team and the national team of Haiti faced each other in a friendly show down benefiting the beleaguered children of Haiti.

Press conference with Mexico and practice sessions to preview Brazil 94’ vs. Haiti match
Players from Brazil’s 1994 World Cup Championship reunion team and the Haitian National Team will meet Friday to for a practice session before their historic game on Saturday.

Child survival threatened by instability in Cote d’Ivoire
DAKAR - 11 November, 2004 - As civil unrest continues to engulf Cote D’Ivoire, UNICEF again calls on all parties to the conflict to ensure basic services and humanitarian access throughout the country. Water and electricity to large parts of the north have been cut for over a week.

East Asia and Pacific region at forefront of action to counter the commercial sexual exploitation of children
BANGKOK, 10 November, 2004 – New initiatives in East Asia and the Pacific are leading the way in combating the commercial sexual exploitation of children, according to senior government officials from across the region.

Soccer stars unite in sporting event on behalf of Haitian children
MIAMI, 8 November 2004 – Soccer stars will meet in Miami on Saturday 13 November to support the boys and girls of Haiti, affected by the recent passage of Hurricane Jeanne.   A selection of the Brazilian professionals who comprised the team that won the 1994 World Cup—including players like Bebeto and Dunga—will face off against the current Haitian national team in a friendly match whose object is to focus attention on the tragic situation of Haiti and to raise funds to finance part of UNICEF’s activities on the island.

UNICEF urges: No more broken promises on girls' education
BRASILIA, 8 November 2004 – Acknowledging that HIV/AIDS, conflict and deepening poverty have eroded gains in enrolling more girls in school in many countries, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy today called on nations to respect promises made to ensure that girls and boys receive the same educational opportunities. Bellamy outlined a strategy to achieve a “radical breakthrough” in these countries.

World missing opportunity to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission through exclusive breastfeeding
GENEVA/NEW YORK, 8 November 2004 – The world has a major opportunity to reduce the toll of HIV/AIDS on infants by taking action now to scale up support for exclusive breastfeeding, UNICEF said today.

Mia Farrow headed to blighted Darfur
NEW YORK/KHARTOUM, 3 November 2004- UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow is bound for the troubled Darfur region of Sudan this weekend to witness first hand the worsening humanitarian crisis affecting over 2 million people. For 18 months the ongoing conflict has driven villagers from their homes.

Tunisia helps restore normalcy among Palestinian school children
TUNIS/RAMALLAH, 3 November 2004 – A Tunisian non-governmental organization ‘Children First’ is giving US 65,000 to UNICEF in support of emergency education activities for Palestinian children in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT).

UNICEF applauds continued “child days” in Uganda
KAMPALA, 1 November 2004 - UNICEF in Uganda today congratulated the Ministry of Health for starting the year’s second round of a national initiative to further improve the health status of children and women.

Sudan ratifies two protocols for the protection of children’s rights
KHARTOUM/GENEVA/NEW YORK, 31 October 2004 – UNICEF welcomed today the ratification by the President of Sudan, Omar el-Bashir, of two UN Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of Child. The Optional Protocols aim at strengthening the protection of children from recruitment into armed forces and from sexual exploitation.

Turkmenistan achieves Universal Salt Iodization
ASHGABAT, TURKMENISTAN, 1 November 2004 – UNICEF Regional Director Maria Calivis arrived in Turkmenistan today to congratulate the government on the country’s achievement of universal salt iodisation (USI).

Rotary and UNICEF celebrate groundbeaking partnership for children
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, 1 November, 2004 - Glenn Estess, President of Rotary International, and Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF, said today that their groundbreaking partnership, which has brought polio to the brink of eradication, proves that the public and private sectors can unite to deliver incredible results for children.

UNICEF hails world’s first regional agreement on human trafficking
YANGON, MYANMAR, 29 October 2004 – Today ministers from China, Cambodia, Thailand, Lao PDR, Viet Nam and Myanmar signed a landmark memorandum of understanding that sets forth a framework of action to fight human trafficking.

Child trafficking requires action in Lao PDR
VIENTIANE, LAOS, 26 October 2004 – Child trafficking is an important problem for Lao PDR which requires urgent action, according to the first national study on the subject released today by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and UNICEF.

Colombia destroys its anti-personnel mines arsenal
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA, October 24, 2004 - Meeting the commitment assumed in the Ottawa Convention, the Colombian Government today destroyed its last arsenal of anti-personnel mines, in a ceremony held simultaneously in Bogotá’s Plaza de Bolívar and in the northern city of Barranquilla, where more than 6,800 mines belonging to the Armed Forces were destroyed.

Jordan launches national plan of action for children
AMMAN, JORDAN, 25 October 2004 - The Jordanian National Plan of Action (NPA) for Children was launched by His Majesty King Abdullah II and Her Majesty Queen Rania at noon today at Le Meridian Hotel, Amman.

New child-friendly MDGs launch and youth writer competition
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 22 October 2004 – As part of the UN week celebration, UNICEF Representative, Bjorn Ljungqvist, today launched UNICEF’s child-friendly version of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and a young artist/writer competition promoting how Ethiopian youth can achieve the MDGs.

One month after hurricane, Grenadian children back in school
ST.GEORGE'S PARISH, GRENADA/NEW YORK/ BRIDGETOWN BARBADOS, 22 October 2004 – UNICEF today applauded the government of Grenada as thousands of children began returning to school just one month after Hurricane Ivan battered the island nation.

Testing time for new Afghan textbooks
Kabul, 22 October 2004 – As the 2004 academic year draws to a close, Afghanistan’s educators already have one eye on the new school term starting next March as brand new textbooks in 11 different subjects begin to be field tested on Sunday (24 October).

UNICEF starts distribution of 40,000 school bags in Gaza Strip
GAZA CITY, October 19, 2004 - UNICEF today began distribution of more than 40,000 school bags to children in the Gaza Strip, starting with schools damaged by the recent military incursions into the North.

Religious and traditional leaders ally with media to back child survival
DAKAR, SENEGAL, 20 October 2004 - In a statement issued today, African religious and traditional leaders committed to using their institutions and influence to give all children every chance for a healthy start in life. They emphasized the need to prioritize marginalized and hard to reach children.

Back to School in Grenada, just one month after Hurricane Ivan
MEDIA ADIVSORY, 20 October 2004 - In a ceremony to mark the reopening of the schools following the devastation caused by Hurricane Ivan, UNICEF Executive Director Karin Sham Poo will hand over 223 school-in-the box kits for primary school, 100 recreational kits to the government and children of Grenada and school supplies for the 19 secondary schools.  

A pinch of salt can go further In West Africa
DAKAR, 19 October 2004 – Some 30 per cent of West African children are still missing out on the enormous benefits of iodized household salt, UNICEF announced today at a meeting of West African leaders and health and industry officials.

Over 74% of Madagascar children vaccinated against measles
Antananarivo, October 4th – More than two weeks into the nation’s largest ever vaccination campaign, WHO and UNICEF are confident that all the country’s 111 districts will be reporting a measles vaccination coverage of at least 95% -- the amount needed to prevent a potential measles epidemic in the country.

UNICEF donation helps Ethiopia dig for water
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 19 October 2004  – UNICEF handed over two shallow well drilling rigs to the Government today to be used in the drought-prone regions of Afar and Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples  Region (SNNPR).

UN agencies say violence is pushing Gaza into humanitarian crisis
JERUSALEM, 5 October 2004 - Twelve United Nations organizations working in Gaza today stated that the ongoing violence on top of the sharply deteriorating humanitarian situation this year is pushing the Palestinian population into a deep crisis.

Equality with Dignity: Towards indigenous rights in Latin America
San Jose, Costa Rica/Panama October 18, 2004 – Nils Kastberg, the Regional Director of UNICEF in Latin America and the Caribbean, presented today the publication, Equality with Dignity: towards new forms of action with indigenous children in Latin America.  

Religious and traditional leaders from across Africa rally for child survival
DAKAR, 18 October 2004 – Religious and traditional leaders and senior media representatives from across the continent are gathering here this week to explore how their unique influence in hard-to-reach communities can boost immunization rates and support child survival efforts in Africa, where two-thirds of child deaths are entirely preventable.

Burundi's children back to school after years of conflict
BUJUMBURA, 14 October, 2004- A “Back to school” campaign was launched today by the Government of Burundi supported by UNICEF in collaboration with other UN agencies. The objective is to boost the primary school enrolment in Burundi where the net school enrolment rate only reaches 56 per cent. The campaign is targeting approximately 440,000 children through the distribution of 350 metric tonns basic school materials.

Iraq’s Schools Suffering From Neglect and War
AMMAN / GENEVA, 15 October 2004 – The first comprehensive study on the condition of schools in post-conflict Iraq has confirmed that thousands of school facilities lack the basics necessary to provide children with a decent education.

Madagascar measles campaign more than a standout success
Antananarivo, October 11, 2004 - In the presence of the President of the Republic and the National Measles Coordinating Committee, the Minister of Health announced today that 7,314,520 children – 97.7% of the some 7.7 million targeted -- had been vaccinated against measles.

UNICEF helps kick polio out of Africa
Abeche 7 October, 2004 - More than 2 million children will receive polio vaccinations over the next three days in a massive campaign to eradicate this debilitating virus in Chad and neighbouring African countries.  In the east of the country, health workers will also include the thousands of - Sudanese refugee children, torn from their villages in the Darfur and now settled in 10 camps in Chad, in the campaign.

Eastern Europe & Central Asia: Millions of children bypassed by economic progress
MOSCOW/GENEVA/FLORENCE, 13 October 2004 – A UNICEF report released today finds that millions of children in Eastern Europe and Central Asia still live in poverty despite economic progress in every country, indicating that economic growth alone does not necessarily improve the lives of children.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sir Roger Moore raising funds for children orphaned by AIDS in China
BEIJING, 6 August 2004 - Sir Roger and Lady Kristina Moore touched down safely in Beijing on Wednesday 4th August, and have already begun their mission to raise awareness and funds for children orphaned by AIDS in China.

Spread of wild polio battled in Sudan with additional immunization campaigns
Khartoum/Geneva/New York, 7 October, 2004 – With confirmation of eleven polio cases in Sudan in 2004, including in the capital city of Khartoum, the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, Rotary International and the UN Children’s Fund renewed their efforts to battle the crippling and sometimes fatal disease with additional immunization days beginning on Sunday.

The power of faith and tradition in saving children’s lives
MEDIA ADVISORY, 11 October 2004 - The Pan-African Forum brings together some 200 hundred religious leaders, traditional chiefs, and media representatives from across the continent to jointly embrace the goal of child survival in Africa.  Sponsored by UNICEF and the World Council of Religions for Peace, the Pan-African Forum will be opened by President Wade of Senegal.

Bellamy to industry leaders: make vaccines available for all
LYON, 11 October 2004 - Delivering the keynote address to the World Vaccine Congress, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy laid out a strategy for closing the gap between children protected by routine immunization and the millions of children still left out, saying a voluntary "coalition of the powerful" is needed to reach those children still not protected by immunization.

Africa fighting back against “hidden hunger” in children
JOHANNESBURG, 7 October 2004 – A report released today says that Africa is fighting back against vitamin and mineral deficiencies, saving millions of women and children from death and debilitation through simple, cost effective strategies such as fortifying staple foods. But millions of children can still be helped if current strategies and partnerships are extended to reach every country and every child.

UNICEF says killing of Iraqi children an “unconscionable slaughter of innocents”
NEW YORK, 30 September 2004 - UNICEF said that the killing of dozens of children in bombings in Baghdad today showed a disregard for innocent lives that recalled the recent massacre of children in Beslan, Russia.

Children celebrate start of new school year in Chad
CHAD, 4 October 2004 - This year an additional 26,000 children will celebrate the start of the new school year in Chad. These children, recently arrived from the Darfur region of Sudan, will have the opportunity to study alongside their fellow classmates in Chad.

Africa launches largest-ever immunization campaign
Geneva, 8 October 2004 -- More than one million polio vaccinators in 23 African countries today embark on the continent's single-largest immunization campaign in history, aiming to immunize 80 million children across sub-Saharan Africa against polio over just four days.  This massive effort is a direct response to an ongoing polio epidemic in the region, which risks paralysing thousands of children for life.

World falling short on promise to reduce child deaths
NEW YORK, 7 October 2004 – New country-by-country data reveals alarmingly slow progress on reducing child deaths despite the availability of proven, low-cost interventions, a UNICEF survey revealed today.  UNICEF said that while 90 countries are on track to meet the target of reducing child deaths by two-thirds by 2015, 98 countries are considerably off track, and globally the pace of progress is far too slow.

UNICEF launches report showing world is falling short on promise to reduce child deaths
MEDIA ADVISORY, 4 October 2004 - Press conference to launch the ‘Progress for Children’  report and a call to action for the world’s political, industry and media leaders. ‘Progress for Children’ is a reprise of the report formerly known as ‘Progress  of Nations’.  ‘Progress for Children’ reveals global gains in child survival since 1990, but  also significant discrepancies within regions. It also offers a summary of trends for each region, including industrialized countries.

African Union leaders launch largest-ever, cross-border polio campaign in history
DAKAR, GENEVA, NEW YORK, 2 October 2004 – More than 80 million children will be immunized against polio in 23 countries across sub-Saharan Africa (22 countries in West & Central Africa, plus Sudan), as part of the single-largest, public health campaign in history.

Children in South Asia deserve better protection from sex abusers and traffickers
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, 1 October, 2004 -  A call to do more to target those supplying children in South Asia for the sex trade and other forms of labour has been made at a meeting in Colombo.

Bellamy Haiti visit supports children of Gonaives
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI, 30 September 2004 - UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy visited Haiti from 29 to 30 September to assess progress in responding to the humanitarian emergency following the destruction caused by Tropical Storm Jeanne.

"The return and reintegration of child soldiers in Sudan: the challenges ahead"
NAIROBI, KENYA, 30 September, 2004 - About 20,000 children have been demobilised from the ranks of southern Sudanese rebel forces since 2001, according to UNICEF. An article published this week in the journal "Forced Migration Review" (Oxford University, UK) summarises a major evaluation of child demobilisation in Sudan commissioned by UNICEF.

"There should be no hiding place in South Asia for child sex sellers"
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, 29 September 2004 - Better enforcement against child traffickers and more cross border cooperation by governments in South Asia is being called for by UNICEF.

Climbing every mountain in Tajikistan
DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN, 27 September 2004 - Almost 3 million children and young people or some 50 per cent of the total population of Tajikistan will be immunized against measles over the coming two weeks in the first ever campaign of its kind  in the country.

Final push in 2004 drive to combat polio in Afghanistan
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN, 26 September 2004 – More than six million Afghan children under the age of five will be vaccinated against the life-threatening polio virus in the final, three day immunization campaign for 2004 that starts on Tuesday. Every province in Afghanistan will be covered, in a joint initiative between the Afghan Ministry of Health, UNICEF and the World Health Organization.

Bellamy visits Gonaives, Haiti, where children tread water to survive
MEDIA ADVISORY, 26 September 2004 - UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy will visit Gonaives where UNICEF is carrying out intense programs to help children struggling to survive following Tropical Storm Jeanne.  It is estimated that 155,000 children under 18 have been directly affected, including hundreds who died in the flooding.  Many are homeless and living in shelters, all are vulnerable amidst appalling conditions.

Leaders talk about HIV/AIDS and children
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, 24 September 2004 - More than 150 senior African and European Parliamentarians convened to discuss how parliamentarians can address the impact of the AIDS pandemic on children.

Taking early childhood nutrition to heart
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 24 September 2004 – Healthy hearts begin in childhood, according to new studies linking good nutrition for children under the age of five to reduced risk of heart disease later in life.

Bombing in Nepal destroys crucial vaccines
KATMANDU, NEPAL, 23 September 2004 - UNICEF notes with grave concern recent reports of the destruction of a health facility in Panchawati VDC in Udayapur, Nepal.

A mountain of a health effort
GENEVA, September 23 2004: This week Nepal launched one of the largest public health campaigns ever undertaken in the country, with the aim of saving the lives of 2,500 children each year.

Call for increased production of long lasting insecticidal nets for malaria control
JOHANNESBURG, 23 Sept 2004 – In an effort to narrow the gap between supply and demand of long lasting insecticidal nets, agencies working in malaria control are today meeting with the private sector in Johannesburg, South Africa to discuss accelerated production and distribution.

Caribbean storms hit children hard
PANAMA CITY / GENEVA, 21 September 2004 – As Haiti and the Dominican Republic begin to dig out from Hurricane Jeanne, UNICEF said today that it is rushing to help restore services to some of the Caribbean’s most vulnerable children as forecasters predict a continuing season of destructive storms throughout the region.

Japan offers lifeline to Bangladesh flood victims
DHAKA, BANGLASESH - The Government of Japan has agreed to provide 103 million Japanese Yen (approximately US$940,000) to UNICEF Bangladesh for emergency water and sanitation activities, as part of Japan’s $5.9 million flood assistance package for Bangladesh.

ECHO donates 1.6 million euros to UNICEF for Zimbabwe's children
HARARE, ZIMBABWE, 20 September 2004 - The European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) in Zimbabwe has contributed EURO 1,600 000 to UNICEF for providing targeted assistance to the country’s most vulnerable women and children.

Next priority for children of Beslan: restore their faith in schooling
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, 16 September, 2004 – “The next priority for the children of Beslan must be to restore their faith in schooling” says Carel de Rooy, UNICEF Representative in the Russian Federation.

UNICEF relief supplies arrive in post-Ivan Jamaica
KINGSTON, JAMAICA, 16 September 2004 - Water and sanitation supplies from UNICEF are part of a shipment of goods totaling US$23,000, slated to arrive in Jamaica on Thursday, September 16.

UN steps up relief to Grenada in Ivan's wake
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS 14 September 2004 - Representatives of the United Nations system met today with donors to step up relief efforts to Grenada as the island struggles to cope with the aftereffects of Hurricane Ivan.

Madagascar launches one of Africa's largest ever measles campaigns
TAMATAVE, MADAGASCAR, 13 September 2004 - At a ceremony this morning, the President of Madagascar, in the presence of his government, international partners, the Diplomatic Corps and thousands of well-wishers, officially launched the largest immunization campaign this country has ever seen.

Afghan religious leaders benefit from child rights awareness
KABUL, 12 September 2004 – 7,800 religious leaders from the western provinces of Afghanistan will start to receive awareness-raising and sensitization training on children’s rights, as a new round of workshops gets under way on 13 September in a joint initiative between the Afghan Ministry of Religious Affairs and UNICEF.

UNICEF speeds supplies to Grenada
ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA  12 September 2004 - UNICEF relief supplies arrived today in this country struck by a hurricane that wrought devastation upon thousands of families, hammering homes, schools, government institutions, disrupting electricity, water and sanitation services and telecommunications.

Stalled peace negotiations in Sri Lanka harm children
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, 9 September 2004 – A report released today by UNICEF says that the stalled peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is a major impediment to assisting children affected by the country’s two-decade long war.

Half a million kids go back to school in Afghanistan
KABUL, 9 September 2004 – As millions of schoolchildren across the world return to the classroom this week, an anticipated half a million boys and girls from the southern and eastern provinces of Afghanistan will also be going back to study, as the second annual phase of the country’s Back to School campaign begins.

Unity in Belize: parties endorse plan for kids
BELIZE CITY, 7 September 2004 - The Prime Minister Hon. Said Musa and the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Dean Barrow endorsed a National Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents, 2004-2015 (NPA) during a brief ceremony at the Radisson Fort George in Belize City at 8:00am today.

Medical supplies arrive in Beslan and Vladikavikaz
GENEVA, 8 September 2004 - The first of two trucks of medical supplies that UNICEF dispatched to hospitals in Beslan and Vladikavkaz reached Vladikavkaz this morning.

Thousands of Darfur’s children get measles vaccine
KHARTOUM/GENEVA/NEW YORK, 8 September 2004 – In a unique follow-up to a June campaign that reached over 2 million children in Darfur with vaccination against measles, a campaign was launched yesterday to reach another 150 000 children from 9 months to 15 years in remote areas of North Darfur controlled by the Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM).

More than one million Palestinian children return to school
JERUSALEM, 6 September 2004 - Some 1.2 million children returned to school last week in the West Bank and Gaza Strip after a summer break.

UNICEF and Casa Alianza join efforts against violence
PANAMA CITY, 6 September 2004 – With the expressed intention of protecting Latin American and Caribbean children and adolescents in a more effective manner against all forms of violence that affect the region, UNICEF and the international non- governmental organization, Casa Alianza, have recently signed their first regional cooperation agreement.

More than one million children get “school kits” in Madagascar
ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR, 7 September 2004 – Amidst much fan fare, smiles and camera flashes, first-time school goers in the nation’s capital received their own "school kit" at a ceremony attended by numerous officials from the Ministry of Education as well as UNICEF’s Chief of Education.

Helping Iraq's children get back to school
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, 7 September 2004 - The near US$2 million raised so far as a result of the Back to School telethon, (Dubai TV, September 3) will provide timely and essential support to help rebuild Iraq’s devastated schools.

UNICEF sends medical supplies to Beslan and Vladikavikaz
GENEVA, 7 September 2004 – UNICEF has dispatched two trucks of medical supplies to hospitals in Beslan and Vladikavkaz to treat the hundreds of children injured in the Beslan school siege.

Children must have access to HIV/AIDS treatment and care
NEW YORK, 3 September 2004 -  The growing number of children living with HIV/AIDS must be a central concern of accelerated efforts to provide scaled-up treatment and care for those living with the disease, health and development experts said today.

Statement by Bellamy on hostage-taking of children at Russian school
NEW YORK/GENEVA/HONG KONG, 3 September 2004 - "The Beslan siege represents a new and discouraging low -- children used as hostages and denied food and water for three terrifying days," said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy.

Vitamins & minerals for children fortifies economic development in China
BEIJING/GENEVA/ NEW YORK, 3 September 2004 – China’s massive drive to reduce the damage done by vitamin and mineral deficiency, particularly to children, is paying rich dividends for its economy, UNICEF and the Chinese Ministry of Health announced today.

UNICEF alarmed by hostage-taking of children at Russian school
NEW YORK/GENEVA/BEIJING, 1 September 2004 - Alarmed at the hostage-taking of 200 children in a school in Beslan in Southern Russia today, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy appealed for the "immediate and unconditional release of the children."

Bellamy urges Tibet to reach for new heights for children
TSE  DANG,  TIBET,  31 August 2004 - UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy today  completed  two  days  of  visits  with  families, health clinics and elementary  schools in the Naidung and Chongjie counties. Bellamy got an up close  look  at the issues faced at village level in Tibet through numerous discussions  with parents, health workers and teachers.

Japan donates $2 million to UNICEF to get children out of orphanages in Central Asia
TOKYO/GENEVA/NEW YORK, 31 August 2004 – The Government of Japan is donating more than US$ 2 million to UNICEF to get children out of orphanages and other residential institutions across Central Asia. The announcement coincides with a tour of Central Asia by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, which ended today.

Asian children and societies still being crippled by landmines
BANGKOK, 30 August 2004 – As landmines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO) continue indiscriminately to maim and kill children across the region, UNICEF called today for governments to redouble their efforts to prevent conflict-related injuries, which represent the fourth leading cause of all fatal injuries worldwide.

UNICEF congratulates Goodwill Ambassador Hicham El Guerrouj
MOROCCO, 30 August 2004 - UNICEF today applauded one of its best loved National Ambassadors, Hicham El Guerrouj, for his double gold medal victories at the Athens Olympics.  El Guerrouj ran his way into record books by being the first man in 80 years to win the 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres titles.

Bellamy arrives in Tibet; proceeds to Shannan Prefecture
AN HUI, TIBET, 30 August 2004 - Carol Bellamy arrived in Tibet yesterday to get a first hand look at the situation of children in Western China, a region that is struggling to catch up with the country’s strong economic growth.

UN calls on Israel to ensure respect for int'l standards concerning prisoners
JERUSALEM, 27 August 2004 - Thirteen United Nations institutions* operating in the occupied Palestinian territory expressed concern today about the hunger strike that reportedly more than 2,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees have joined.

47 children, formerly abducted by LRA, come back home
KAMPALA, 27 August 2004 – UNICEF in Uganda today urged civilian and military authorities responsible for receiving 47 formerly abducted children – repatriated today from southern Sudan by the International Organization for Migration, after their abduction by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) – to ensure the children’s rights remain protected.

Against the tide, Angola pushes for polio-free status
LUANDA, 27 August 2004 – In the same week as three African countries were re-infected with polio, Angola today takes another step towards being declared polio-free when it begins the immunisation of five million (under five) children.

Bellamy looks at situation of children in Western China
BEIJING, 27 August 2004 - The Chinese economic miracle which has catapulted hundreds of millions out of poverty is still a distant reality for China’s western regions. In this part of the world’s most swiftly developing nation, rural income is half, child mortality is double and maternal death – in some districts – is 5-10 times higher than the east.

Mehr Khan appointed as Deputy High Commissioner of Human Rights
NEW YORK, 26 August 2004 - "During her 28 years at UNICEF, she demonstrated wisdom, tenacity, superior intelligence and a deep commitment to upholding the rights of children. I have no doubt that she will be as effective in her new position as she was at UNICEF," said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy.

Reintegrating children associated with fighting forces in Liberia a "success"
MONROVIA/NEW YORK/GENEVA, 26 August 2004 – Just four months after the launch of a massive disarmament campaign, almost 85 per cent of about 5,800 demobilized children have gone home to their families. Over 115 children were reunified this week.

Lack of water and sanitation causes silent emergency
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 26 August 2004 - More than 2.6 billion people – over 40 per cent of the world's population – do not have basic sanitation, and more than one billion people still use unsafe sources of drinking water, warns a major report released today by WHO (the World Health Organization) and UNICEF.

Bellamy meets with children formerly associated with fighting forces in Liberia
MONROVIA, 24 August 2004 - UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy today visited the Jah Tondo camp for internally displaced people and the Don Bosco Interim Care Centre for demobilized children formerly associated with fighting forces.

UNICEF rushes vaccines to displaced children from South Ossetia
TBILISI, GEORGIA, 24 August, 2004 –  One week after crisis broke out in South Ossetia, approximately 1,600 displaced children are being immunised against measles, mumps and rubella as UNICEF and the Georgian Ministry of Health rush vaccines to the areas where the children have been evacuated.

Largest measles campaign to launch in Madagascar
MEDIA ADVISORY, 24 August 2004 - The campaign, which will target 7.5 million children between the age of nine months and 14 years, is the largest vaccination campaign Madagascar has seen and involves several government ministries, international and national agencies.

New polio cases confirmed in Guinea, Mali and the Sudan
GENEVA/NEW YORK, 24 August 2004 - The ongoing polio outbreak which originated in northern Nigeria continues to infect new countries, underscoring the threat of a major epidemic across west and central Africa.  Epidemiologists from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative today confirmed the re-infection of Guinea and Mali, as well as three new cases in the Darfur region of the Sudan.

Panama to commemorate Int'l Day of Fight Against Slavery
MEDIA ADVISORY, 24 August 2004 - The event celebrates the 2004 as the “International Year to Commemorate the Fight against Slavery and its Abolition” and the bicentenary of the foundation of the Republic of Haiti.

Bellamy lands in Liberia for a three-day visit
MONROVIA, 23 August 2004 - UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy landed in Liberia today for a three-day visit to assess progress in reintegrating children formerly associated with fighting forces with their families.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Kenenisa Bekele wins gold in 10,000 meters
ADDIS ABABA, 23 August 2004 – The UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office congratulates Olympic gold medal winner and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) Kenenisa Bekele upon his victory in the 10,000 meters in Athens.

UNICEF airlifts 81 tons of supplies for Darfur refugees in Chad
N'DJAMENA, 20 August 2004 -  In order to accelerate its humanitarian aid for the Darfur refugees in eastern Chad, UNICEF is airlifting 81 tons of emergency supplies by special cargo this week to N’Djamena.

Hundreds of media agencies in Madagascar mobilize around measles
ANTANANARIVO, 20 August 2004 – In the weeks preceding the official launch of the measles campaign in Madagascar, which targets 7.5 million children, media and press agencies around the country have gotten together, in workshops organized by the National Measles Steering Committee, with the assistanceof UNICEF, to see what they can do, in addition to giving air time, to spread the word about the campaign.

UNICEF Executive Director to visit Liberia
MEDIA ADVISORY, 20 August 2004 - On 24 August UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy will travel to Gbarnga, Bong County, the site the Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DDRR) was re-launched, to meet with former child soldiers living at interim care centres while awaiting reunification with their families. She will also visit a UNICEF-supported teacher training programme, a vocational skills centre, and Phebe Hospital to inspect the cold chain system provided by UNICEF to store vaccines.

UNICEF provides vaccines for Sudanese refugee children in eastern Chad
N'DJAMENA, 19 August 2004 - In an effort to immunize all the 86,400 Sudanese refugee children under 15 years living in the refugee camps in Chad, UNICEF is providing 206,000 measles and polio vaccines doses. Some 106,000 vaccines are already being used for catch up vaccination campaigns, as well as routine immunization, while an additional 100,000 measles vaccines arrived in N’Djamena on August 18. The target is to reach more than 80% vaccination coverage.

UNICEF provides school supplies and sport equipment to the displaced children from South Ossetia
TBILISI, Georgia, 19 August, 2004 - UNICEF has rushed emergency assistance in the form of school supplies and sporting equipment and is mobilizing volunteers to assist the several hundred children escaping the conflict in So. Ossetia.

Urgent action needed to sustain flood affected children in Bangladesh
DHAKA, 18 August 2004 - Falling water levels after some of the worst floods in the history of Bangladesh have allowed better access to affected populations. After a two day visit to three areas, Sylhet, Sunamganj and Brahmanbaria, UNICEF Representative Morten Giersing said the children he saw were clearly badly affected, showing visible signs of suffering from Vitamin B deficiency and living in makeshift shelters around their former homes.

UNICEF condemns attack on refugee camp in Burundi
NEW YORK, 18 August 2004 - The senseless massacre of mostly Congolese refugees that took place in a transit camp in Burundi on the night of August 13-14 is a brutal reminder of the fact that women and children bear the brunt of violent conflict, UNICEF said today.

Children in South Asia deserve better protection from sex abusers and traffickers
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, 1 October, 2004 -  A call to do more to target those supplying children in South Asia for the sex trade and other forms of labour has been made at a meeting in Colombo.

The rights of young Iraqis in conflict with the law “must be respected”
AMMAN, JORDAN, 28 September 2004: Senior members of the Iraq government reaffirmed Tuesday that young Iraqis who come into conflict with the law must have their rights respected in accordance with international standards and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

On anniversary of UN Baghdad bombing, UNICEF affirms its commitment to Iraqi children
NEW YORK/GENEVA/AMMAN, 18 August 2004 – One year after the tragic loss of  UN staff, including a UNICEF staff member, in the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad UNICEF today said it was committed to carrying out its humanitarian mission in Iraq. 

UNICEF response to the displaced children and women from South Ossetia
TBILISI, GEORGIA, 16 August 2004 - UNICEF is the process of providing rapid emergency assistance to the displaced women and children from South Ossetia who have been temporarily moved to the sanatoriums of Borjomi (southern Georgia) and Tskaltubo (western Georgia).

UNICEF dispatches 10 million measles vaccines across Madagascar
ANTANANARIVO, August 17, 2004 – Over the past few days, trucks and planes loaded with measles vaccines, auto disable syringes, communication materials and manuals for mobilisers began leaving the capital and port cities of Antananarivo and Tamatave towards all 111 (health) districts of the country.

Bellamy tells pediatricians they have key role in advocating child survival
CANCUN, Mexico, 17 August 2004 –  UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy told leading pediatricians gathered here this week that they are crucial to efforts to improve child survival, saying that they must advocate for action that goes beyond traditional health initiatives to address the more complex causes underlying entrenched child mortality.

Read the Philadelphia Inquirer's Op-Ed on the UNICEF Model for Protecting Children
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER - My "All Join Hands" columns have taken two tracks. One is to improve the protection of children in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties from violence, be it from a finger on a trigger or the hand of an adult. The second runs through the African nation of Uganda. Thousands of children in the north there have been abducted and forced into being soldiers or slaves in a civil war.

UNICEF and the game for peace
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti,  13 August 2004 – On Wednesday, August 18, the national football teams of Haiti and defending World Cup champion Brazil –– led by superstars Ronaldo, Cafu, Kaka, Ronaldihno and Roberto Carlos  –– will play a friendly match in Port-au-Prince promoting peace as part of the peacekeeping component of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.

UNICEF gets into swing with Olympic games
ATHENS, 13 August 2004 -  UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy is in Athens today to kick off a series of events celebrating the role sports plays in helping children grow to a healthy adulthood.  At the top the line-up is the opening of a camp for 450 young people from 200 countries, plus 50 from Greece who will be trained as “Champions for Children’s Rights”.

Bangladesh flood victims now facing survival struggle
DHAKA/NEW YORK/GENEVA, 12 August 2004 - After overwhelming floods some of the poorest children in the world are trying to rebuild their lives while facing increasing risks of disease.  The devastating effects of the continuing Monsoon rains are threatening the development gains made by people in Bangladesh, which is one of the densest populated countries in the world.

UNICEF provides out of school youth with new hope
ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR, 12 August 2004 -  At a “graduation” ceremony for 258 out-of-school youth, UNICEF and the Ministry of Education praised the joint initiative that has helped over 400 young people, over the course of the past year; attain both basic education and vocational skills.

UNICEF Uganda thanks Italy for funding to humanitarian response
KAMPALA, 10 August 2004 – UNICEF in Uganda today expresses its appreciation to the Government of Italy for its recent contribution of US$624,220, made toward the United Nations Consolidated Interagency Emergency Appeal for 2004.  UNICEF is pleased to announce that the contribution will strengthen the agency’s ongoing accelerated response to the most urgent humanitarian needs of the internally displaced population (IDP) in northern and eastern Uganda, including the most vulnerable children and women.

Launch of DevInfo software for monitoring MDG progress for English-speaking Africa
NAIROBI, 5 August: The United Nations is sponsoring a database that will enable countries to organize, consolidate and make readily available national data on human development indicators.

Lang Lang applauds Tanzania’s drive against malaria
KILIMANJARO/NEW YORK, 6 August 2004 – On his first visit as a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador, Chinese virtuoso pianist Lang Lang said Tanzania is a shining example of what governments and local communities can do in the fight against malaria – a disease which currently kills over one million people every year, most of them under five years old and living in sub-Saharan Africa.

FMOH and UNICEF join forces to promote safe breastfeeding
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 6 August 2004 – Dr. Tesfanesh Belay, Head of the Department of Family Health for the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), and Bjorn Ljungqvist, UNICEF Representative, held a press conference today affirming the importance of breastfeeding to protect babies against such potential killers as diarrhoea.

Support sports to promote peace in Somalia, says UN
NAIROBI, 6 August 2004 – In the run up to the return of four Somali youth from a two week summer football camp at Real Madrid F.C. of Spain, the UN Country Team appeals to the international community to support sports initiatives among the youth in Somalia as an effective tool to promote peace-building.

Bellamy to call for new tactics in child survival at meeting of pediatricians in Cancun
MEDIA ADVISORY, 5 August 2004 - UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy will deliver the keynote address to  the 24th International Congress of Pediatrics in Cancun. Every year, more than 10 million children under the age of five die totally preventable deaths. Some are the direct causes of illness—pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles—and others are affected by indirect causes such as conflict and HIV/AIDS. Malnutrition and lack of safe water and sanitation are contributing factors to more than half of these deaths.

Stakeholders meet to develop Ethiopian strategy on OVCs
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 5 August 2004 – Key stakeholders representing all eleven regions in Ethiopia have come together to assess the scale and scope of programmes for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) in Ethiopia, identify key gaps and constraints and develop strategies on scaling up interventions.

Kano resumes polio immunization campaigns
NEW YORK, 3 August 2004 - The spearheading partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative welcome the resumption of polio immunization campaigns in Kano, Nigeria. The Initiative re-affirms its commitment to support Kano's state, traditional and religious leaders, as well as Nigeria's federal ministry of health to ensure the country reaches its goal of stopping poliovirus transmission by end 2004.

UNICEF mourns loss of lives in Paraguay fire
ASUNCION, Paraguay, 3 August 2004 -  UNICEF expressed its condolescences to the government and people of Paraguay today in the wake of yesterday's tragic fire in a mall in Asuncion that took the lives of more than 350 people, including at least 46 children.  Dozens more are missing and in hospitals.

UNICEF gears up emergency response in drought affected areas in Kenya
NAIROBI, 3 August 2004 – In response to the drought emergency recently declared in Kenya by President Mwai Kibaki, UNICEF is seeking funds to scale up its response in the drought affected areas across the country.  The UNICEF crisis appeal is seeking to raise more than 8 million US dollars to support the Government’s efforts to alleviate the consequences of the drought on the most vulnerable groups, children and women.

Japanese $3.77 million to fight disease in Sudan
KHARTOUM, 2 August 2004 - The Japanese Government has announced the donation of $3.77 million (423 million Yen) for UNICEF in Sudan for campaigns to eradicate polio, combat measles, and reduce malaria.

UNICEF issues appeal for Bangladesh flood victims
NEW YORK/GENEVA/BANGLADESH, 30 July 2004 - In the aftermath of the worst floods to hit Bangladesh since 1998, 25 million people are now affected. In the capital, Dhaka, and other population centres the sewerage system has collapsed. 1.5 million people have taken refuge in temporary shelters. Almost 60% of them are children, who are most vulnerable to life threatening water borne diseases.

UNICEF concerned over school crisis in Moldova
Chisinau, July 28, 2004 -  UNICEF Moldova expresses its serious concern over the actions taken against the schools in Tiraspol, Bender and Ribnita, which use Latin script and the attempts to close these schools by force.

Lang Lang takes on malaria
Lang Lang is going to Tanzania to help raise awareness about the impact of malaria.

UNICEF: Breastfeeding can save over 1 million lives yearly
NEW YORK, 30 July 2004 – On the eve of World Breastfeeding Week UNICEF said that by expanding the number of women who exclusively breastfeed during their child’s first six months, at least 1.3 million infant lives could be saved this year.

A brilliant trio on Peruvian playing fields
Lima, July 24, 2004.- If there’s one thing to be said about this Copa América it’s that it didn’t just attract thousands of tourists and great football players – the idols of many children-  but that it also convened important personalities.

UNICEF Executive Director: Create a Latin America fit for indigenous children.
Cusco, Perú, 24 July 2004.  During the Copa América, UNICEF has been repeating a simple slogan that sums up the spirit of our agreement with CONMEBOL: ¡Con los niños sí se gana!

UNICEF trains Sudanese police to assist child victims of sexual violence
Khartoum/Geneva/New York, 26 July 2004 – Amidst widespread reports of sexual violence and rape of women and children in Darfur, UNICEF concluded a three-day training of Sudanese police officers designed to assist them in investigating cases of rape of children. 

Improved health system for returnees in Burundi

A Memorandum of Understanding on Health Interventions and Health System Reinforcement related to the voluntary repatriation of refugees and reintegration of the affected populations to Burundi was signed today by UNICEF, UNHCR and WHO.

Kano State rejoins polio eradication campaign
Abuja 20 July 2004 – UNICEF and its partners congratulate the Kano State Government for making a decision in the best interest of Nigerian children. The country is now united in the fight against polio and has the unique opportunity to spare future generations from this crippling disease.

The International Donors Conference on Haiti
Washington, D.C., 19 July 2004 - Statement by Mr. Kul C. Gautam, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF.

UNICEF supports child-friendly summer camps
JERUSALEM, 20 July 2004 – UNICEF-supported summer camp activities have begun throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip, bringing recreational and play activities to some 17,000 boys and girls.

Uganda's Night Walkers: Read Carol Bellamy's opinion piece in the International Herald Tribune
I have seen many disturbing things during my time with UNICEF. But few are as shocking as the sight of the "night commuters" in northern Uganda says UNICEF Director.

UNICEF urges citizen watchdog for Haitian aid
Washington/Geneva/New York, 16 July 2004 – UNICEF said today that a citizen watchdog is the best way to support accountable reconstruction in Haiti.

Indian icon Shabana Azmi tells South Asian leaders to ‘get real’ about HIV/AIDS
Bangkok, 15 July 2004 - Indian film star and social activist Shabana Azmi told participants at the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok that South Asian leaders must do much more to help protect their young people from the threat of HIV/AIDS.

South Asian religious leaders establish multi-faith Council to address HIV/AIDS
Faith-based leaders of South Asia, launched a bold initiative to provide leadership and mobilise communities in response to the growing HIV/AIDS crisis, especially among young people.

Single-dose Nevirapine should be available to HIV-positive mothers
UNAIDS, UNICEF and EGPAF today expressed concern about the South African Medicine Control Council’s decision to discontinue use of single-dose nevirapine for prevention of mother to child transmission.

Upcoming national measles campaign
Thousands of health workers to blitz Madagascar in the Fall.

Sanitation gaps make Darfur ripe for disease outbreaks affecting children
UNICEF reported today that while almost half of the 1 million displaced persons in Sudan’s Darfur region have access to safe water, poor sanitation conditions still pose great risk to tens of thousands of children.

UNICEF calls for broader assistance to orphans due to AIDS in Uganda
With the global release today of a biennial report on orphans, UNICEF in Uganda said that current measures for the care and support of children, whose parents die of AIDS, were inadequate compared to the scale of the problem in the country. 

ESPN award for courage goes to UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
ESPN today honoured UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador George Weah with the prestigious Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his fearless work on behalf of children caught up in wars worldwide. 

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Young people demand bigger voice and greater access in global AIDS response
Young people at the XV International AIDS Conference told leaders that HIV/AIDS is out of control because global response has disregarded the rights and concerns of young people.

Two Million Darfur Children Get Measles Shot
Khartoum/Geneva/New York, 9 July 2004 – UNICEF and WHO said today that 2 million children in Darfur have been vaccinated against measles, but that hundreds of thousands more cannot be reached because of prevailing insecurity.

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Launching of the National News Agency for the Rights of the Child (ANNI – Bolivia)
In the Auditorium of the National Journalists Association in La Paz the launching took place yesterday of the National News Agency for the Rights of the Child (ANNI – Bolivia).

Indian cricket team spotlight girls’ education campaign in South Asia
The Indian cricket team today took time out from final preparations for the Asia Cup to highlight one of the biggest development challenges facing India and the South Asia region – the millions of children not in school, the majority of who are girls.

Zimbabwe: New hope for education
UNICEF today received a contribution of US$465,920 from the New Zealand Agency for International Development to fund a multifaceted primary education, life and livelihood skills project for children out of school and dropouts involving both schools and surrounding communities in 2 districts of Zimbabwe.

Launch of new report on children and HIV/AIDS
Children on the Brink 2004 provides the latest and most comprehensive statistics available on historical, current and projected numbers of orphaned children under age 18, focusing on children whose parents die of AIDS.  The report stresses the importance of very distinct developmental needs that must be met as vulnerable children progress through early and middle childhood to adolescence. 

UNICEF congratulates Uganda on new database outlining key indicators on children
UNICEF today congratulated the Government of Uganda on formally launching a national database that provides wide-ranging and updated information on social development in the country, including those directly linked to the lives of children and women.

UNICEF and H&M in partnership for girls' education and HIV/AIDS awareness
UNICEF today announced a new partnership and thanked the global fashion company H&M for its donation of $1.5 million toward UNICEF girls’ education programmes worldwide and HIV/AIDS prevention programmes in Cambodia. The donation will be given over a three-year period.

Dafur breeding new generation of "child survivors"
Khartoum/Geneva/ New York, 2 July 2004 – UNICEF reports today that a significant number of children displaced in Darfur have either been direct victims of violence or have witnessed violent acts.

Global Fund grants Somalia US$8.9m to fight malaria
NAIROBI, 28 June 2004 – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) has given a grant of nearly US$8.9 million to Somalia to prevent and control malaria, one of the main killers of children in the country.

Major measles immunization campaign launched in Occupied Palestinian Territory
Ramallah/Gaza City, 28 June 2004 –UNICEF launched a major measles immunization campaign in the West Bank and Gaza Strip today, aimed at providing more than 540,000 children aged 9 – 59 months with a safe injection of measles vaccine and a doses of Vitamin A. The three-week long campaign is led by the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Palestinian Authority, UNICEF and UNRWA - with financial support from the Japanese Government, USAID and a contribution from the Micronutrient Initiative.

Children being caught up in recruitment drive in north east
COLOMBO, 26 June 2004 – After promising signs in April that the LTTE was taking seriously its pledge to release the children in its ranks, recruitment has been accelerated in recent weeks, including of children under the age of 18.

New campaign to tackle water and sanitation related disease in Afghanistan
KABUL, 24 June 2004 – The Afghan Ministry of Health and Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development is joining forces with UNICEF and other partners to launch a new nationwide campaign to tackle water-related disease in Afghanistan. The campaign, which is officially launched on Sunday 27 June, will combine a number of initiatives, including hygiene education, health promotion and the physical safeguarding of the water supply.

Demobilization programme for former Afghan child soldiers reaches 2,000 children
KABUL, 24 June 2004 – The programme to demobilize and re-integrate former child soldiers in Afghanistan, led by UNICEF with Government, NGO partners and local communities, has now helped to demobilize 2,203 children in eight provinces of the country, since its launch in February. The majority of children demobilized to date – all of whom are boys – are aged between 14 and 18 years old.

Ministers of Education and technical experts meet in Nairobi to discuss scaling up what works for girls’ education in sub-Saharan Africa
MEDIA ADVISORY, 23 June 2004 - A number of ‘good practices’ in girls’ education have been identified as the prime candidates for scaling up in Africa. They hold the promise to accelerate the enrolment, retention and quality of learning of girls if implemented on a large scale. The three day meeting will discuss specific ways in which the impact of these practices can be increased and the implications on policies and plans at national, local and school levels.

Experts gather on Capitol Hill to discuss how faith-based groups can better support children and young people affected by AIDS
WASHINGTON, D.C., 23 June 2004 -- The role of faith-based organisations in providing care and support to children and young people affected by AIDS was the focus of a briefing on Capitol Hill today for congressional representatives and heads of major faith-based organisations.

UNICEF establishes emergency stockpile in Dubai
COPENHAGEN, 22 June 2004 – For the very reason that emergencies are unique, often unpredictable, and crucial decisions must be taken fast, preparing for emergencies is vital. UNICEF is opening a new emergency hub in Dubai as part of its continuing efforts to ensure that in a crisis, children and their families receive essential supplies as quickly as possible.

Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy on polio epidemic
NEW YORK, 22 June 2004 - Today’s confirmation of a polio case in Darfur is the latest blow to hit children in a region beset by tragedy. This news is both a setback to Africa’s eradication campaign and a serious threat to public health.

Copa America dedicated to children of Peru
LIMA, 22 June 2004 - A few days before the start of the America Cup/Peru 2004, the organizers, the official sponsors and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced jointly that Peruvian children would be among the big winners of this sporting event.  With a campaign entitled ¡Con los niños sí se gana! (You Win with Children!), UNICEF and the South American Soccer Federation (CONMEBOL) have agreed to dedicate the Copa América 2004 to the children of the host country, Peru, though a series of activities designed to guarantee good soccer by promoting child development.

Polio experts warn of largest epidemic in recent years, as polio hits Darfur
GENEVA, 22 June 2004 - Epidemiologists of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative today issued a stark warning that west and central Africa is on the brink of the largest polio epidemic in recent years.  The warning follows confirmation today that a child was paralyzed on 20 May by polio in the Darfur region of the Sudan, a country which had not seen the disease in more than three years. The virus is closely linked genetically to poliovirus endemic to northern Nigeria, which has spread through Chad in recent months.

UNICEF and cricket in South Asia unite for girl’s education
DHAKA/Bangladesh, 21 June 2004 - UNICEF and the Asian Cricket Council have joined hands on one of the biggest development challenges facing South Asia. With 46 million children out of school in the region, the majority of them girls, the two bodies have agreed to highlight the massive loss this represents for children, society and the progress of countries in the region.

Afghan maternal and neo-natal tetanus vaccination campaign reaches 3.6 million women
KABUL, 20 June 2004 – Figures now collated from around Afghanistan show that at least two doses of tetanus toxoid vaccine have been administered to more than 3 million Afghan women in 2004, and that 3.6 million women of child-bearing age have received at least one dose, following a nationwide vaccination campaign.

UNICEF teams up with partners for girls’ education
PARIS/DHAKA-BANGLADESH/NEW YORK, 21 June 2004 - Major sporting bodies and stars lent their skills and muscle to the cause of girl's education at two international events today.  In Dhaka, UNICEF announced a partnership with the Asian Cricket Council and in Paris cheered the finals of the Jetix Kids Cup (formerly Fox Kids Cup). 

UNICEF Ambassador, track star attends Jetix Kids Cup to speak out on sports and girls’ education
MEDIA ADVISORY, 18 June 2004 - Ethiopian UNICEF National Ambassador Berhane Adere, Olympic gold-medal hopeful in the 5,000 metre race, has been campaigning on behalf of children’s right to play and receive a quality education.  Last week, she participated in the Child-to-Child Survey in Ethiopia – a global project where schoolchildren ask their out-of-school peers why they have been denied their right to an education.  She is coming to Jetix Kids Cup to hand out the UNICEF Fair Play Award to the victorious girls’ and boys’ squad.

Young torchbearers carry flame for peace
NEW YORK, 18 June 2004 – Two teenage torchbearers chosen by UNICEF will speed the Olympic Torch onto the grounds of the United Nations Saturday evening in a ceremony to mark an appeal for an Olympic Truce --  the cessation of conflict during the period immediately before, during and after the Olympic Games.

UNICEF thanks Italian government for 1.8 million euro donation
NEW YORK, 18 June 2004 – UNICEF today thanked the Italian government for a 1.8 million euro donation aimed at putting an end to female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), a procedure that is still performed on some 2 million girls each year.

UNICEF welcomes special court ruling establishing child recruitment a 'war crime'
NEW YORK/FREETOWN, 17 June 2004 –   The Special Court for Sierra Leone recently ruled that the recruitment or use of children under age 15 in hostilities is a war crime under customary international law.  This landmark ruling may result in the first ever conviction for the recruitment of child soldiers.  UNICEF welcomes the Court’s decision as a bold effort to hold perpetrators accountable for serious crimes against children.

Botswana emergency polio campaign: “Wake-Up Call for the World”
GABORONE, Botswana June 15 – Fears that polio-free countries in Africa could be on the verge of a new polio epidemic, triggered off a massive emergency immunization campaign in Botswana this week, according to the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization, WHO.

'Change for Good' campaign saves lives in Angola
LUANDA, 16 June 2004 – Today British Airways announced its intention to continue supporting Angolan initiatives and projects to help children, following their previous funding assistance to help increase Maternal and Neo-Natal Tetanus vaccination beginning last year. The latter was expressed by Rob Cooper, Angola Country Commercial Manager, during a press conference held in Luanda, jointly with UNICEF.

Mozambique’s President receives Child Parliamentarians
MAPUTO, 16 June 2004 - Commemorating the Day of the African Child, UNICEF appeals to the Government and other stakeholders in Mozambique to further strengthen the opportunities of young people to participate in the development of the country.

After 21 years of war, the children of Southern Sudan need more than a lifeline
NAIROBI/RUMBEK, 16 June 2004 - A girl born in southern Sudan has a better chance of dying in pregnancy or childbirth than of completing primary school. To put it another way, one in nine women dies in pregnancy or childbirth but only one in a hundred girls completes primary school.

UNICEF Frontline Diary: Eye-witness diary from Darfur
DARFUR, 15 June 2004 - "Much more needs to be done in an ever shrinking amount of time. People are not dying from diseases in great numbers yet, but they surely will if their basic situation is not improved. For this everyone has a role to play," writes UNICEF Communications Officer Oliver Phillips.

Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy on the conclusion of her visit to the Darfur Region
KHARTOUM, 15 June 2004 -- It is clear to me that a worsening crisis is upon us.  We must do all we can to avert a humanitarian disaster. The number of displaced people – already estimated at close to 1 million men, women and children – continues to grow. As the rainy season begins, it is now a race against time to provide children and their families with basic, life-saving services: clean water and sanitation, nutrition, shelter and health care.

UNICEF rolls out Child-to-Child Survey to get all children in school
ADDIS ABABA, 15 June 2004 – In honour of the Day of the African Child, UNICEF officially launched a child-powered, global project to account for children not in school in order to accelerate the enrolment of all girls as well as all boys.

UNICEF congratulates Goodwill Ambassador George Weah on humanitarian award
NEW YORK, 13 June 2004 – UNICEF applauded the announcement that Liberian soccer star and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador George Weah will receive the prestigious Arthur Ashe Courage Award from ESPN for his work on behalf of children whose lives have been affected by conflict, disease and poverty.

Zambia to hold symposium on child sexual abuse and violence against women
MEDIA ADVISORY, 11 June 2004 - The symposium aims to initiate dialogue on gender-based and sexual Violence. Zambia recognizes that if the region is to respond to the epidemic effectively, it must confront the cultural practices, strengthen legislation and policies and challenge the factors that perpetuate these human rights abuses in this dangerous era of HIV/AIDS.

Efforts against child labour often overlook domestic workers
GENEVA / NEW YORK, 11 June 2004 –  The widespread use of children as domestic servants is one of the most hidden forms of child labour, and one that leaves millions of children, mostly girls, at risk of sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking, UNICEF said today.

Bellamy heads to stricken Darfur region
NEW YORK, 11 June 2004 – UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy heads to the troubled Darfur region of Sudan this weekend to see first-hand the life-threatening situation facing hundreds of thousands of children caught in one of the world’s most rapidly developing humanitarian crises.

Somali youth selected for Real Madrid football camp: Sports for Peace
NAIROBI, 9 June 2004  - Four young Somalis have been selected to attend a two-week summer football camp at one of the world's most famous football clubs, Real Madrid F.C. of Spain.  The Real Madrid Summer Camp takes place from 18 to 31 July 2004.

UNICEF and Cathay Pacific celebrate 13-year partnership
NEW YORK, 9 June 2004 – Celebrating the 13-year partnership between UNICEF and Cathay Pacific Airways, which has raised more than US$ 6.5 million since 1991 on behalf of UNICEF as part of its ‘Change for Good’ programme, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy honoured Cathay Pacific Chief Operating Officer Phil Chen at a ceremony Wednesday here at UNICEF headquarters.

Japan Committee for UNICEF becomes first to pass $100-million mark
NEW YORK, 9 June 2004 – In a record-setting contribution, the Japan Committee for UNICEF has donated more than $100 million to the children’s agency, UNICEF said today.

UN bodies concerned about safe access for 60,000 Palestinian school students to Tawjihi exam sites
JERUSALEM, 7 June 2004 – Ten United Nations institutions call on the Israeli authorities to ease restrictions on movement in the occupied territory to enable 60,000 Palestinian students to sit for their Tawjihi matriculation final exams beginning today 7th of June.

Memorial service pays tribute to the life of Sir Peter Ustinov
MEDIA ADISORY, 4 June 2004 - UNICEF’s annual executive board meeting will host a tribute recognizing the enormous contribution and exemplary dedication Sir Peter Ustinov made on behalf of children globally.

Immunization begins for millions of Darfur children
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 7 June 2004  – WHO and UNICEF said today that an ambitious plan to vaccinate millions of children against measles in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region began over the weekend.

UNICEF statement on murder of MSF workers in Afghanistan
AFGHANISTAN, 4 June 2004 - The Executive Director of UNICEF, Carol Bellamy, said that she was shocked and saddened to hear of the murder of five MSF workers in Afghanistan. Speaking from New York, Ms Bellamy extended condolensces to the families and colleagues of the victims on behalf of all UNICEF employees. The two organisations often collaborate on humanitarian relief projects throughout the world, and MSF is a key partner of UNICEF in Afghanistan.

For every child, a birth certificate
PRESIDENTIAL PALACE, ANTANANRIVO, 4 June 2004 – For the first time in Madagascar, through the combined efforts of the country’s Presidency, eight ministries, civil society and international partners including UNICEF, the Prime Minister launched a national campaign to ensure that every child receives his or her birth certificate.

Child Survival Fact Sheet: Water and Sanitation

Child Survival Fact Sheet: Nutrition

As G8 leaders discuss global poverty, UNICEF puts spotlight on children in poor countries
NEW YORK, 4 June 2004—While leaders of the world's richest countries gather on Sea Island for the G8 Summit, UNICEF calls on them to remember the plight of children in many of the world’s poorest countries.

New health facilities and training to provide vital lifeline to women in northern Afghanistan
KABUL, 3 June 2004 – Women in northern Afghanistan are to be provided with improved obstetric care services following the opening of the region’s first Centre of Excellence in emergency obstetric care on Saturday 5 June.

UNICEF says urgent funds needed for thousands of displaced children in Darfur region
GENEVA, 3 June 2004 – UNICEF said today that thousands of children’s lives can be saved in Sudan’s western Darfur region if adequate funding is received in the next few weeks. Although the coming rains are expected to complicate relief efforts, the agency said that a major challenge for the entire aid community is funding.

A snapshot - the night commuters of northern Uganda
UGANDA, 28 May 2004 - The thick grasslands, glittering streams and rich fields that surround Gulu town in northern Uganda, belie the harsh life that most people lead in this province. Over the past year, a surge of attacks by the Lord’s Resistance Army has driven nine of every ten inhabitants into Internally Displaced camps that are scattered throughout the land. Well over a million women and children have been affected, and the number is growing each day.

UNICEF launches public service campaign
NEW YORK, 28 May 2004 – UNICEF today announced the creation of a new series of public service announcements highlighting the fundamental rights of children to health care, education, equality and protection.

UNICEF joins relief efforts to protect hundreds of families and children in flood-ravaged areas in Haiti and Dominican Republic
PORT AU PRINCE and SANTO DOMINGO, 26 May 2004 – UNICEF offices in Haiti and the Dominican Republic have joined forces to support humanitarian relief for the more than 1,200  families, including children, who have been left homeless and without access to clean water, food and medical care following the severe floods that ravaged several villages and towns along the border between the neighboring countries last weekend.

UNICEF hails North-South peace progress in Sudan
NEW YORK/NAIVASHA/KHARTOUM, 26 May 2004 - UNICEF today welcomed the agreement of key protocols between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), saying that full-fledged peace is essential for the immediate survival and long-term well-being of Sudan's 15 million children.

Latin America and Caribbean unite to prevent sexual exploitation of children and adolescents
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA, 20 May 2004 - The Follow-Up Meeting of the II World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents, concluded with an agreement among the 24 countries present to join efforts to prevent and to reduce the causes of child and adolescent vulnerability, to promote change in cultural patterns, to reform legislation and penalize perpetrators, to implement migratory measures, and to improve mechanisms to prosecute and condemn nationally and internationally those who exploit children. UNICEF calculates that on a yearly basis, 2 million children and adolescents are victims of these crimes around the world.

Bellamy urges attention on Uganda's displaced people crisis; Calls on LRA to release children
KAMPALA, 25 May 2004 – Arriving for a four day visit to conflict troubled Uganda, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy called on both the Government and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army to protect children, noting that the number of people displaced by the fighting has tripled in just the past 24 months.

First Day Hospital for children living with HIV/AIDS opened in Maputo
MAPUTO, 24 May 2004 – UNICEF is confident that the opening of the first Paediatric Day Hospital in Mozambique will boost treatment opportunities for children living with HIV/AIDS in the country.

UNICEF provides water to thousands in parched Darfur region
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 25 May 2004 - UNICEF said today that despite having doubled the numbers of people in recent weeks who have access to clean water in Darfur, hundreds of thousands of people are still excluded from access to safe wells and water points.

Bellamy heads to Uganda to tackle issues for children
MEDIA ADVISORY, 21 May 2004 - UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy will meet with representatives of the Government of Uganda, donors, and non-governmental organisations to discuss strengthening the national, regional and international response. In south-western Uganda, Ms. Bellamy will see the progress achieved in programs supported by the Government of Uganda and UNICEF, particularly in the area of community-based development.

UNICEF Deputy Exec. Dir. Toshiyuki Niwa to visit Egypt
CAIRO, 20 May 2004 – The Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, Mr Toshiyuki Niwa begins a visit to Egypt on Friday during which he will meet senior government officials and representatives of other UN agencies based in Cairo.

UNICEF calls for change in justice systems on behalf of child prisoners in E. Asia and Pacific
BANGKOK, 18 March 2004 – A UNICEF report released today calls for urgent improvements in judicial systems for children and young people in East Asia and the Pacific.

Dramatic improvements in child health and education noted on Timor Leste's second anniversary
TIMOR LESTE, 20 May 2004 - As Timor Leste, the world’s newest nation and youngest democracy, marks its 2nd anniversary on May 20, it can also celebrate dramatic improvements in health and education services for children, says UNICEF.

UNICEF calls for the protection of children in Rafah
JERUSALEM, 19 May 2004 – UNICEF said today it is deeply concerned about the impact on children of the ongoing military operation in the Gaza Strip, particularly a missile strike Wednesday that claimed the lives of at least 10 Palestinians, many of them children.

Chinese piano virtuoso named Goodwill Ambassador
NEW YORK, 20 May 2004 - Lang Lang, the 21-year-old Chinese pianist who has dazzled audiences throughout the world with his musical brilliance and youthful exuberance, was appointed UNICEF’s newest Goodwill Ambassador today.

Thanks to FIFA, football is more than just a game
PARIS/GENEVA/NEW YORK, 20 May 2004 -  On the 100th anniversary of FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, UNICEF congratulated the organization for harnessing the power of soccer to improve the lives of the world’s neediest children.

Asian and North African countries close to ending polio, announce accelerated plans to 'mop-up' new cases
GENEVA/NEW YORK, 17 May 2004 - Asian and North African countries could be polio-free within months, while west and central African countries must change track to stop the virus, according to data presented in Geneva today by Health Ministers from the world's six remaining polio-endemic countries.  The ministers announced a two-pronged strategy to further accelerate eradication activities in both areas.

On Day of Families, remember children who are alone
NEW YORK, 14 May 2004 - Children growing up without parental care are at greater risk of violence, exploitation, trafficking and discrimination, UNICEF said today, commemorating the International Day of Families.

UNICEF launches guide on partnering with religious groups to advance immunization
GENEVA - 13 May 2004 - Partnering with religious groups is crucial to the successful implementation of vaccination programmes worldwide, UNICEF said today, launching a guide that outlines effective methods of establishing and continuing such partnerships. The guide highlights the increasing importance of community organizations in global public health initiatives.

In a first for Madagascar, 90 school children present action plan to National Assembly
ANTANANARIVO, 13 May 2004 -  In a first for Madagascar, 90 students from schools in Fianarantsoa and Antananarivo, two of the country’s six provinces, arrived at the National Assembly this morning to present their “dossiers” to both the President and Deputies of the National Assembly.

Optimism and opportunity in Europe and Central Asia
SARAJEVO / GENEVA, 13 May 2004: As Government Ministers from across Europe and Central Asia gather in Sarajevo for a conference to nail down commitments to children’s rights, UNICEF said the timing could not be more auspicious.

UNICEF Statement on Iraq
GENEVA / NEW YORK, 11 May 2004 – UNICEF is profoundly disturbed by news reports alleging that children may have been among those abused in detention centres and prisons in Iraq.  Although the news reports have not been independently substantiated, they are alarming nonetheless. 

Children from 4 continents call for action to end child poverty
BARCELONA, 11 May 2004 – Children from four continents will today open the first dialogue at the Universal Forum of Cultures in Barcelona, Spain, by talking from first-hand experience about child labour, conflict, disability, migration and HIV/AIDS – some of the most visible signs of child poverty.

HIV/AIDS menaces progress in Ukraine
KIEV/NEW YORK/GENEVA. 11 May 2004 – Ukraine is on the threshold of a full-scale HIV/AIDS epidemic, with an estimated quarter of a million people living with HIV/AIDS, UNICEF said today, as its Executive Director Carol Bellamy arrived in the country on an official visit.  In addition a large proportion of its population faces a range of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD).

Alyssa Milano passes her first test for UNICEF
LUANDA, 10 May, 2004 – UNICEF National Ambassador Alyssa Milano today called on the developed world to get behind UNICEF’s HIV/AIDS work in Angola. On the first day of her week-long visit to Angola, 31-year-old Milano met with young, HIV positive women, explored a Voluntary, Testing and Counseling (VCT) clinic in Luanda, and visited a Luandan hospital. At the VCT clinic Milano had a HIV test, but said it was an opportunity available to far too few Angolans.

Botswana launches emergency polio campaign
NEW YORK, 10 May 2004 - The Minister of Health of Botswana today kicked off a massive emergency immunization campaign in the southern African nation of Botswana, following the re-introduction of poliovirus into the country from Nigeria in February, after a 13-year absence. The campaign is deemed critical to protect the country's children from further spread of the poliovirus. 

UN taskforce meets to address infant infection with HIV/AIDS
BANGKOK, May 10 –  UNICEF will convene tomorrow the UN Regional Taskforce Meeting on prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. More than 700,000 children under 15 are infected worldwide with HIV/AIDS every year, almost all through vertical transmission of the virus from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery or breast feeding. As the epidemic spreads in Asia and the Pacific, the number of children infected is rising. Years of hard-won progress in child survival are set to be reversed.

UNICEF Exec. Dir. to visit Ukraine to focus on HIV/AIDS and Iodine Deficiency Disorders
MEDIA ADVISORY, 7 May 2004 - UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy visits Ukraine to focus attention on disproportionate impact that HIV/AIDS is having on children and young people, and to support efforts to achieve universal salt iodization.

2004 America Cup dedicated to Peruvian children
ASUNCIÓN-PARAGUAY, 7 May 2004 - The America Cup/Peru 2004 will be dedicated to the children of Peru.  The announcement was made today by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the South American Soccer Federation (CONMEBOL). The international soccer tournament -- one of the region's most important biennial sports' events -- will take place in July in six cities of Peru.

When it comes to children, world still at a crawl
NEW YORK, 7 May 2004 - With governments lagging in fulfilling promises made at the United Nations two years ago, millions of children continue to die from preventable diseases and to be deprived of such basic rights as education, safe drinking water, and protection from abuse, UNICEF said today.

Child sex tourism and exploitation increasing in The Gambia
BANJUL, 5 May 2004 - A report released today by the Government of The Gambia and UNICEF reveals that sexual abuse and exploitation of children is on the rise in the tiny West African nation that is a favorite destination for tourists from several European countries.

UNICEF assists schools affected by recent violence in Thailand
BANGKOK, May 3 – UNICEF is sending school supplies to the three southern provinces in Thailand affected by the recent violence. since January 2004, an estimated 30 schools have been destroyed in southern Thailand, affecting some 5,000 students. Teachers have been intimidated and there is a fear that some schools may not reopen after the current holiday due to security considerations, according to UNICEF.

UNICEF applauds start of May 2004 "Child Days" in Uganda
KAMPALA, 29 April 2004 – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Uganda today congratulates the Ministry of Health for announcing a new initiative to further improve the health status of Ugandan children and women.  “Child Days,” which the Ministry will formally inaugurate 3 May with the support of UNICEF, WHO and other partners, focuses on accelerating routine health service activities using outreach systems in place at the district level, and to do so twice a year.

Jackie Chan wraps up mission to Cambodia
PHNOM PENH, April 28 – Newly appointed UNICEF/UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Jackie Chan Wednesday wrapped up a busy three-day mission to Cambodia during which  he played with HIV-positive children, blew up landmines, met Prime Minister Hun Sen and pledged to do “whatever I can do” to promote the cause of children.

UNICEF to host two critical conferences on malaria and Millennium Development Goals
NEW YORK, 27 April 2004 - As part of UNICEF's role in gathering global leaders and a broad base of experts to address ambitious agendas, UNICEF is co-sponsoring two separate conferences this week on  Promoting Human Rights and Social Policies for Children and Women: Monito