Europe and Central Asia
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Programme
The Child Guarantee: Phase III
UNICEF pilots innovative approaches aimed at breaking the cycle of child poverty and social exclusion
Programme
Protecting children with disabilities from the pandemic
COVID-19 and children with disabilities in Europe and Central Asia
Programme
Response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and Central Asia
We are appealing for $149 million to shield vulnerable children and their families in the region from the worst impact of the pandemic.
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Explainer
How oxygen is a lifeline for Uzbekistan's newborns
As she watched the baby's heart rate on the monitor, Qunduz, a neonatologist at the maternity hospital in Tashkent city, Uzbekistan, silently prayed. The newborn's condition was critical. She had severe pneumonia and could barely breathe. For a moment, Qunduz imagined announcing bad news – that the baby had died –...
Explainer
Child poverty trends in Europe and Central Asia
Looking at child poverty across regions is useful for making comparisons, but it can mask important differences sub-regionally or between countries. 1 The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region spans 6,500 kilometers from east to west and includes countries ranging from Luxembourg, with a GDP per capita of $137,517 ...
Press release
UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia concludes visit to Croatia
ZAGREB, 26 September 2025, - UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia and Special Coordinator for the Refugee and Migrant Response in Europe, Regina De Dominicis today concluded her first official visit to Croatia. During the visit, De Dominicis met with government officials of the Republic of Croatia...
Article
Vaccines during pregnancy: Which vaccinations are recommended – and why
Vaccinating your baby on schedule is the most effective way to protect them against life-threatening, preventable diseases. But to keep infants (and their mothers) as safe as possible, vaccinations shouldn't only happen after birth. Why are some vaccinations recommended in, or before, pregnancy? First, they prote...
Document
Migrant and refugee children in 2024 via mixed migration routes in Europe
In 2024, some 41,779 children arrived in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain. Of these, 21,323 (51 per cent) were unaccompanied children. Overall, child arrivals by sea and by land decreased by 25 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023 (55,704).This factsheet is jointly produced by UNHCR, UNICEF and IOM wi...
Press release
Obesity exceeds underweight for the first time among school-age children and adolescents globally – UNICEF
NEW YORK, 10 September 2025, –, Obesity surpassed underweight as the more prevalent form of malnutrition this year, affecting 1 in 10 – or 188 million – school-aged children and adolescents, and placing them at risk of life-threatening disease, UNICEF warned in a new report today. Feeding Profit: How Food Environ...
Press release
Global funding cuts could force 6 million more children out of school in the coming year – UNICEF
NEW YORK, 3 September 2025, – As global education funding faces steep cuts, an estimated 6 million additional children could be out of school by the end of 2026, around one-third of them in humanitarian settings, UNICEF warned in a new analysis released today. Official Development Assistance (ODA) for education is...
Article
For every child in Azerbaijan: what we achieved together
For more than 30 years, UNICEF and the Government of Azerbaijan have worked together to advance the rights and wellbeing of every child in the country. From responding to humanitarian needs to supporting long-term national development, our partnership has helped deliver real and lasting change. UNICEF's presence i...
Press release
4.6 million children in Ukraine face ongoing educational barriers as fourth academic year during war begins
KYIV, 1 September 2025 –, On the eve of the fourth consecutive academic year during the full-scale war, 4.6 million Ukrainian children are returning to learning despite numerous challenges. With classrooms damaged, lessons interrupted, and millions still displaced, the ongoing hostilities threaten to deprive a gen...
Statement
Four children reportedly killed in wave of deadly attacks on Kyiv
GENEVA/KYIV, 28 August 2025 , – “A wave of deadly attacks hit Kyiv during the early hours of this morning – reportedly killing four children, including a toddler. The children were at home in their beds, trying to sleep. At least 10 children were also reportedly injured. “Once again, the lives of children have bee...
Press release
Famine confirmed for first time in Gaza
ROME/GENEVA/NEW YORK, 22 August 2025 –, More than half a million people in Gaza are trapped in famine, marked by widespread starvation, destitution and preventable deaths, according to a new https://www.ipcinfo.org/ Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis released today. Famine conditions are ...
Article
Why all babies need the hepatitis B vaccine
What is hepatitis B?, Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver. It can cause liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. The virus causes the deaths of more than one million people per year worldwide and infects around one million more. In the World Health Organization (WHO) European and Eastern Mediterranean...