In 2024, more than 57.5 million children will be born in countries affected by armed conflict or other humanitarian crises. UNICEF: almost $10 billion will be needed to help young people in hot spots in 2025 Humanitarian aid
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has requested $9.9 billion to help 109 million children in 146 countries affected by armed conflict and other crises.
Record number of children in need of support
Worldwide, 213 million children are in the midst of unpredictable humanitarian emergencies. UNICEF plans to provide humanitarian assistance to 109 million children in 2025 and calls on donors to provide the necessary amount.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stressed that today, a record number of children need support and that the number is growing. “UNICEF’s mission is to ensure that every one of these children has the essential services and necessities, and that their rights are protected and respected. These principles have guided our work for 78 years,” she said.
In 2024, more than 57.5 million children will be born in countries affected by armed conflict or other humanitarian crises. This figure is expected to increase by at least 400,000 in 2025.
Plans for 2025
As part of its humanitarian activities in 2025, UNICEF plans to:
- provide primary health care to 56.9 million children and women;
- screen 34 million children aged 6-59 months for wasting;
- Provide access to mental health support for 20.6 million children, adolescents and caregivers;
- Ensure access to programmes to combat gender-based violence for 11.1 million women, girls and boys;
- Ensure access to education for 24 million children;
- Ensure access to clean water for 55.3 million people;
UNICEF plans to carry out its largest operations in Afghanistan ($1,188,778,304), Sudan ($840,000,000), the Democratic Republic of the Congo ($804,295,490), the State of Palestine ($716,540,000) and Lebanon ($658,200,000).
UNICEF Activities in 2024
In 2024, thanks to UNICEF’s assistance, 26.4 million children and women gained access to primary health care; 12.2 million children aged 6-59 months were screened for malnutrition; 17.4 million people gained access to sufficient and adequate water for drinking and household use; 9.7 million children gained access to school or out-of-school education, including pre-primary education; 12.6 million children, adolescents and caregivers have gained access to community-based mental health and psychosocial support.
“Flexible Funding”
Last year, donors provided 50 percent of UNICEF’s earmarked humanitarian funding for just four emergencies in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Syria and Ukraine, a fraction of the 412 emergencies in 107 countries where UNICEF provided humanitarian assistance.
At the same time, humanitarian operations in countries such as Burkina Faso, Lebanon, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and Myanmar are experiencing the greatest shortfalls funding.
“Support in the form of flexible humanitarian funding is critical to our work for children affected by crises,” Russell said. “Imagine what we can achieve for children when we work together, with a common humanity, to create a world where every child’s rights are protected and respected, and where every child can thrive and reach their potential – a world where every child thrives.”