Content Topic
Water, sanitation and hygiene
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Programme
Water, sanitation and hygiene
UNICEF works with governments to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
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Press release
The earthquake won’t stop children learning
Port Vila, Vanuatu, 17 February 2025 – Two months on since the 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Vanuatu, more than 12,000 children from affected schools are able to continue their learning during this new school year. The earthquake caused widespread damage to lives, homes, schools, and health care facilities. UNI...
Article
Resilience amidst drought
No water for weeks, plants were slowly dying, the grass was turning brown, the local water sources were starting to dry up, and children even stopped playing outside in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). “I was scared,” says 13-year-old Francesca, remembering how she felt when a state of emergency was ...
Article
Dignity, Safety, Security, and Comfort – Everything Makereta needs during her menstrual cycle
Nabavatu Village, Labasa, Fiji – It’s early morning and sounds of laughter from little children sips through the tent. Makereta, 17, wakes up and sighs loudly – “It’s mid-month again,” she tells herself worriedly. She quickly gets up and rushes to the nearby bathroom, only to mutter irritation under her breath as ...
Blog post
Navigating maritime challenges
The remote Eastern islands of Fiji are hard to get to and remain exposed to climate hazards. With only one flight a week, the Lau islands communities rely on boats to transport what they need. One major issue is the scarcity of reliable water sources. The isolation of the Lau Islands makes it difficult to transpor...
Press release
Thousands to benefit from strengthened healthcare services through access to reliable and safe water supply
Port Vila, Vanuatu 21 June 2024 – Today, the Government of Japan and UNICEF have together handed over improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services to the Vanuatu Ministry of Health to boost healthcare activities reaching thousands of people who will be accessing medical services at Mele Health Centre. T...
Press release
This World Water Day, thousands still affected by severe drought in the Federated States of Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), 22 March 2024 – While millions of people around the world are involved in activities to celebrate World Water Day today, an estimated 16,000 people, including 6,400 children are still affected by severe drought conditions in the Federated States of Micronesia. There has been ...
Press release
Global Handwashing Day making clean hands within reach
Suva, Fiji 15 October 2023 – On the occasion of this year’s Global Handwashing Day UNICEF Pacific is calling on partners to ensure "clean hands are within reach". Marked on the 15th October, global handwashing day underpins the importance of good hand hygiene in controlling the start and spread of diseases and vir...
Article
Keeping Paradise a Paradise
Keeping Paradise a Paradise, Community-led total sanitation in Kiritimati Dawn is barely breaking in Poland, a small and remote village of Kiritimati (pronounced “ Christmas ”), but Beeta is already up and running, making sure that her husband Rabeua and two children have everything they need to start their day. S...
Press release
UNICEF calls for greater investment in water and sanitation in the Pacific
SUVA, FIJI 7 July 2023 – Funding levels for water and sanitation in the Pacific must increase considerably if children are to have universal access by 2030 according to a new UNICEF report. The UNICEF report Financing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in the Pacific finds that basic sanitation services across 14 Pacif...
Report
Financing water, sanitation, and hygiene in the Pacific
The Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) have made some strides in expanding access to safe and reliable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services over the last decade, but it’s not enough. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) mandate safe water and sanitation services for all by 2030, and we ...
Press release
Let’s ‘be the change’ on World Water Day and beyond
Savusavu, Fiji, 22 March 2023 – Today, children from 10 schools in the Northern Division in Fiji were among the first in the world to celebrate World Water Day by taking part in an oratory and drama contest organized by the Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport and UNICEF. The contest has...
Report
UNICEF Pacific Multi-Country Profile 2023-2027
The UNICEF Pacific Multi Country Office covers 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) spread across a vast 30 million square kilometre area of the Pacific Ocean. Approximately 14 per cent of the estimated 2.57 million population are aged between 0-5 years, and 40 per cent are aged under 18. Due to the...