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.
More resources
Video essay
Travelling by horseback to deliver lifesaving care in remote Kyrgyzstan
Jiydegul Rysbaeva Seitkazievna has been a medical nurse in Kyrgyzstan since 1988. In the rural, isolated valley where she lives, it isn't convenient – or even possible – to drive to the families she serves by car, or to take a train. Instead, she uses a different mode of transport. “I administer vaccines on horseb...
Press release
Decades of progress in reducing child deaths and stillbirths under threat, warns the United Nations
GENEVA/NEW YORK/WASHINGTON D.C., 25 March 2025 – The number of children dying globally before their fifth birthday declined to 4.8 million in 2023, while stillbirths declined modestly, still remaining around 1.9 million, according to two new reports released today by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child...
Statement
Deadly attacks affecting children in Ukraine a tragic reminder that nowhere is safe
KYIV, 24 March 2025 – “I’m horrified by reports of yet another attack devastating children’s lives, this time injuring at least 17 children and damaging a school this afternoon in Sumy, north-eastern Ukraine. “This comes on the back of a deadly seven days, during which two children were reportedly killed and at l...
Statement
Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the attacks in Gaza
NEW YORK, 18 March 2025 – “Reports and images emerging from the Gaza Strip following today’s attacks are beyond horrifying. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed, including more than 130 children, representing the largest single-day child death toll in the last year. “Some of the strikes reportedly hit makeshift shelters with sleeping…
Article
The teachers and imams fighting for vaccines
Nasiba Nachitova, a kindergarten teacher in Batken city, frequently speaks to parents about the importance of vaccination. However, she didn't always understand the crucial role that immunization plays in protecting children. “I used to hear that you needed to get vaccinated, but I had no idea that refusing vaccin...
Article
Your common questions about measles and the MMR vaccine, answered
Jump to, Common questions about the measles Common questions about the measles vaccination What is measles? Measles is a very contagious disease caused by a virus. Although many people know about the disease because of the rash it causes on the skin of the infected person, measles can also cause a high fever, cou...
Press release
European Region reports highest number of measles cases in more than 25 years – UNICEF, WHO/Europe
GENEVA/COPENHAGEN, 13 March 2025 – 127,350 measles cases were reported in the European Region in 2024, double the number of cases reported for 2023 and the highest number since 1997, according to an analysis by WHO and UNICEF. Children under five accounted for more than 40 per cent of reported cases in the Region ...
Report
European Region reports highest number of measles cases in more than 25 years
Children under five accounted for 43 per cent ‑ more than 54,000 - of reported cases. More than half of all people – nearly 74,000 – who contracted measles in 2024 required hospitalization.Hospitalizations from measles are mostly due to complications such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, and dehydration, which can be life...
Article
Measles cases have soared over the past two years
Before the introduction of the measles vaccine, around 2.6 million people died of the disease around the world every year. Millions more have experienced life-threatening or life-altering complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, kidney damage, liver disease, brain damage, loss of hearing and loss of visio...
Article
Can men get postnatal depression?
For decades, health professionals have been aware of a condition known as postnatal, or postpartum, depression. This is a mental health condition that is similar to depression, but arises within a year of a baby's birth. Symptoms can include feeling low or "empty", lacking energy, and feeling little joy in what us...
Article
Why girls' rights matter for everyone
Women and girls make up half of the global population. That's a huge proportion of people to leave behind – which is what happens when we fail to ensure that women and girls have the same access to education, opportunities, freedom and justice as everyone else. We may think that most countries already have achieve...
Statement
Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on global foreign aid reductions
NEW YORK, 5 March 2025 – “Announced and anticipated funding cuts will limit UNICEF’s ability to reach millions of children in dire need. “These cuts by numerous donor countries follow two years of aid reductions at a time of unprecedented need. Millions of children are affected by conflict, need to be vaccinated against deadly diseases such as…