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Emergency relief and response

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Flash floods in Afghanistan posing urgent and persistent threat to children

KABUL, 3 June 2024 – Tens of thousands of children in Afghanistan remain affected by ongoing flash floods, especially in the northern provinces of Baghlan and Badakhshan and the western province of Ghor. The most recent floods claimed nearly 350 lives – including at least a dozen children. Over 7,800 homes were da...

From crisis to care: UNICEF’s swift response saves lives in Afghanistan

327 districts out of 421 nationwide have reported outbreaks of acute watery diarrhea. Half of the reported cases are children under five years old. Ten-month-old Adela flashes a wide smile as a doctor examines her in the inpatient department at the Wardak provincial hospital in central Afghanistan. Adela's mother,...

Millions of children at risk in Myanmar and Bangladesh in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha

NEW YORK/BANGKOK/NEPAL, 16 May 2023 – The trail of destruction left by Cyclone Mocha – which tore through parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar on Sunday – is causing severe disruption to the lives of millions of vulnerable children and families, including many already living in dire conditions. Even as the worst o...

04 September 2022

UNICEF delivers life-saving supplies to help children affected by floods in Pakistan

PAKISTAN, 4 September 2022 – UNICEF today delivered 32 metric tons of life-saving medical and other emergency supplies to support children and women affected by devastating floods across Pakistan. The shipment arrived in Karachi from UNICEF’s Supply Division in Copenhagen. The shipment includes medicines, med...

“I felt my sister’s hand beside me”

GAYAN, PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN – Gulaba was jolted awake to the weight of her whole house on her little body. Just a few hours previous, she had slept peacefully, curled up next to her 10-year-old sister, Mah Gul. But that night, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake shook her village in Gayan District, flatt...

UNICEF Geneva Palais briefing note on the situation of children and families affected by floods in Bangladesh

GENEVA, 24 June 2022 - "The situation caused by flash floods in north-eastern Bangladesh has deteriorated rapidly over the last week. At this very moment, 3.5 million children are in urgent need of safe drinking water. That is a staggering two million more children than just a few days ago. Huge areas are completely underwater and are disconnected…

UNICEF Geneva Palais briefing note on the situation of children and families affected by the earthquake in Afghanistan

GENEVA, 24 June 2022 - "Good morning. Thank you for your time. "I’d like to bring you up to date with the latest from Afghanistan, following the earthquake that struck in the early hours of 22 nd June in the provinces of Khost and Paktika. "The earthquake was another tragic reminder of the challenges facing the people of Afghanistan. Our…

Over 1.5 million children at risk as devastating floods hit Bangladesh - UNICEF

DHAKA, 23 May 2022 – Over 1.5 million children are at increased risk of waterborne diseases, drowning and malnutrition due to extensive flooding in north-eastern Bangladesh. UNICEF is on the ground with Government and non-government partners to respond to the urgent safety, health, nutrition and clean water n...

ICC supports UNICEF’S COVID-19 relief efforts in South Asia

DUBAI/ KATHMANDU, 17 June 2021 - The International Cricket Council (ICC) through its Cricket for Good initiative today launched a fundraising campaign to support UNICEF’s emergency COVID-19 response in South Asia. The campaign was launched at the inaugural World Test Championship Final being played in Southampton ...

As deadly surge of COVID-19 sweeps across South Asia, UNICEF calls for $164 million to help save lives

KATHMANDU, 21 May 2021 – UNICEF urgently requires $164 million to procure oxygen and testing supplies, medical equipment, personal protective equipment and infection prevention and control material to help save lives amid a deadly wave of COVID-...

UNICEF sends 3,000 oxygen concentrators and other critical supplies to India as country battles deadly COVID-19 surge

NEW DELHI/KATHMANDU, 29 April 2021 – UNICEF has sent critical lifesaving supplies, including 3,000 oxygen concentrators, diagnostic tests, medical kits, and other equipment to help India in its battle with a deadly wave of COVID-19. “COVID-19 is severely overstraining the health system in India,” said Dr. Yasmin H...

03 November 2020

UNICEF Country Profiles - South Asia

About the document: These country profiles provide a brief overview of UNICEF programme in South Asia. Countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Use the dropdown menu on the right to download the profile for each country. Authors: UNICEF South Asia and Country ...