Talented gamers support children in forgotten emergencies, through Gamers Without Borders

GWB tournament proved that there are so many creative ways to support a humanitarian cause. This tournament is the largest eSports charity event globally, that brings e-gamers, influencers, and celebrities in the Global Gaming community to support humanitarian and development actions. It was an opportunity for UNICEF to reach a new audience including young gamers and talented esports celebrities. This year particularly, GWB announced the launch of its female edition, designed specifically to encourage and empower women gamers to showcase their skills and talents on the global stage.

In 2023, UNICEF partnered with the Saudi E-sports Federation in GWB tournament for the 4th consecutive year. This year's donations will support children in emergencies, particularly in forgotten crises. In 2022, UNICEF collected $4.1 million in 2022, from the winners who donated their share of the winning prizes, to help children affected by conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan and Ethiopia. It helped deliver vital aid such as health services, vaccines for children, safe drinking water, access to education, therapeutic food to flight acute malnutrition and much more.

In 2021 and 2020 UNICEF collected US$6.4 million and US$3.9 million, respectively, from the winners who donated their share of the winning prizes. This donation supported UNICEF's role in leading the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation ever undertaken and mitigating the devastating challenges children and families faced due to COVID-19.

Children in silent and forgotten emergencies have the same urgent needs as those affected by the emergencies that we see in the news. They equally need healthcare, education, and protection. In 2023, 339 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection – a significant increase from 274 million people at the beginning of 2022.

Today more children are in need of humanitarian assistance than at any other time since World War II. UNICEF has been working  for more than 75 years in some of the most challenging places on the planet, to reach children trapped in humanitarian emergencies or displaced by conflict and disasters, to ensure that children can survive and thrive in all stages of their lives. The winning prizes that the talented gamers and teams donated in 2023 will enable UNICEF to provide the following:

• School box kits to provide vital education supplies for teachers and students affected by humanitarian crises. 
• Large high-performance tents, which will serve as temporary schools, clinics or protection centers in an emergency crisis. 
• Vaccination campaign to protect 1 million children against measles and rubella

Early childhood development kits will provide activities to encourage the development and social interaction of young children living in emergency settings.