XUNICEF News and Views

The 2025 XUNICEF Reunion in the Philippines brought together 58 participants from 18 countries for a week of friendship, discovery, and cultural immersion.

The much-anticipated 2025 XUNICEF Reunion in the Philippines (February 3 – 9) has come to a vibrant close, bringing together 58 participants, including UNICEF retirees and their families from 18 countries.

Saturday, February 15 2025 Roma Salon, Manila Hotel Approximately 30 members attended Future Reunion Sites  * Zimbabwe 2026 was offered by Susan Muza

If proof of the Trump/Musk administration's mean & malevolent intentions were needed, this is it. "The US terminating funding for polio, HIV/AIDS, malaria and nutrition programs around the world".

Adjusting to life in another country was quite a challenge, especially since Horst started travelling very soon and I was left to myself. Well, not exactly, because Angelica and Vicky from the office looked after me and helped when needed. We also inherited a live-in maid with the rental of the house. She had a teenage daughter who attended school. She wanted her to have an education. Unfortunately, our maid was already being treated for cancer and died after six months. She worked so hard that one could not tell that she was sick. Before she died she asked if we could look after her daughter. We were very happy to do so and she became a part of our family. Shortly before our next transfer, she got married in a beautiful Church ceremony and has lived happily ever after. We are in touch to this day. We were able to find another maid soon after her mother died. Schooling for the children worked out very well. Both Karl and Paul were admitted at the International School Nido de Aguilas, a...

Article shared by Robert Cohen A diatribe against parenting interventions and ECD programs - Truths and half-truths are twisted in this article into specious arguments to denounce parenting interventions and the ECD “industry” led by UNICEF and its partners.

For the many Xunicef colleagues who remember Margaret Williams, and especially those who worked with me in the storied Africa Section of the mid 1980’s, the Bamako Initiative Unit and the Division of  Personnel, she was one of my closest colleagues and the backbone of each of these HQ units.

More than 35 years ago, when we started Operation Lifeline Sudan, my children asked why the UN doesn’t stop the war in Sudan. Here is what I said: “ The UN is a meeting. Delegates from many countries meet and discuss their grievances and disputes. The UN Secretariat facilitates the meeting, but it cannot guarantee that the parties agree to a solution. ” Securing peace is the most important task. Participants at the UN meeting do this by reading out statements, voting, vetoing, signing declarations, and going about their daily business.

DIRECT ACTION HANDPUMP My wife and I were very fortunate to have studied at Cape Town University which nestles below Table Mountain in an architectural gem where we learned a lot - both in the lecture halls, and outside them.  We made a number of good friends with whom we still correspond – that is with those that are still alive, of course.

Angela Raven Roberts sent us sad news: Greetings all especially UNICEF folks.  I just heard that our dear friend and colleague Sandra Haji Ahmed passed away in White Plains hospital.  Many of us will remember her in Human Resources and organizing all those early days emergency trainings round the regions. She went on to work across the road in  UN HQ and mentored many people’s careers. Her own history also so interesting from Trinidad and Somalia. Her father was a well known diplomat and ASG at UN HQ in the days before Somalia broke up and consumed itself.  A lovely human being and quiet professional. She will be missed. Angela From Sandra's son, Kamal Dear All Thank you so much for your kind words and prayers. I’m not sure where you’re located but we will be having a memorial service in NYC tentatively on the 15th of March. All local friends and ex colleagues are more than welcome to come. I will send more details as we figure them out. Kamal Haji - kamalhaji914@gma...

Dear friends, yesterday, young colleagues (maybe they aren't that young, I'm just sooo old!) from the ILO and academe organised a brilliant webinar on "post-USAID", covering humanitarian assistance as well as development funding notably for social protection. The discussion addressed how to deal with the attacks on our principles of DEI and human rights, including elegantly circumventing them with "adaptive" language so as to continue work esp in the humanitarian field.

Presidents FDR and Harry Truman who helped establish the UN after WWII, and Woodrow Wilson who did so much to found the League of Nations after WW1 (but the predecessors of Mike Lee dissuaded the US from joining the League) must be turning in their graves at this nativist, isolationist initiative of Republican legislators to DEFUND and withdraw from the UN. 

By Paul Edwards United Kingdom Prime Minister Starmer’s announcement yesterday that the UK will cut its aid budget by 40% in order to boost defence spending is another sign of the collapse of the humanitarian aid and development assistance system as we used to know it. This is not just about funding, though that is serious enough. This is about the whole approach to supporting the development of countries of the world and responding to humanitarian crises. Everything that we have taken for granted, such as the UN system, the role of NGOs, the relationships with governments, can no longer be relied upon. We are truly in new territory, and it is extremely scary.

CAIRO (AP) — All roads around Sudan’s famine-stricken Zamzam camp in North Darfur are blocked and the security situation has become “unbearable,” an international aid worker told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French name Médecins Sans Frontières, or MSF, has suspended its activities in the camp of a half-million people because of safety concerns caused by fighting between the Sudanese army and the rival paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces, or RSF.

Dear Colleagues and Friends, I have just returned from another visit to Lesotho, where malnutrition rates remain very high indeed. Child stunting and anaemia among children and women remain major challenges, as do poor diets and poor health more generally. Through my organization, I've been honored to be asked to help the Government in its ongoing planning to address malnutrition through multi-year, multi-sectoral approaches (health, agriculture, social protection, etc) and resource mobilization efforts. If you would be interested to work with me on this challenge going forward, or know other colleagues who might be able to lend relevant expertise, please let me know (directly, I suggest). Thanks so much and best wishes to all. Richard richgmorgan@hotmail.com

The following was shared by Louis Mendez, saying: Nothing but dark clouds U.S. National Statement at the WFP Executive Board  February 18, 2025 As Prepared for Delivery The United States commends the World Food Program’s (WFP) commitment to providing lifesaving food assistance to the world’s most vulnerable. The United States’ relationship with the World Food Program is crucial for providing safe and accountable assistance to those in need.  And we recognize the courage and dedication of WFP staff, many of whom work in difficult situations around the globe, for their efforts. WFP’s footprint and core logistical capabilities are the backbone to respond to the world’s complex needs.

Nuzhat Shahzadi 's Puerto Rico Part II - Who dares? Who cares? which features as a continuation of her Part I published a couple of weeks earlier, will still hold interest for many of our readers who had seen the earlier version. It showcases its vibrancy and rich culture through music, dancing, bright hues and brilliant colors. Click here to view the feature.

 

(Editorial Note: This is a continuation from Puerto Rico Part I, which we carried as our feature in an earlier publication.) Throughout their history, Puerto Ricans proudly showcased their vibrant and rich culture through music, dancing, cooking and painting their walls in empty spaces with bright hues of brilliant colors. This is Puerto Rico, reaching out beyond colors and creed with a touch of craziness and yet preserving its sublimity. It aspires to reach the skies in places.

The price of eggs has skyrocketed in recent weeks in America. During the last presidential election, the cost of eggs created a snowball-effect dominating the GOP campaigns. Trump promised to lower prices of all consumer items, kill the inflation––at present it’s at 3%-4% ––higher than in 2024 (2.9%) under the Biden administration while the world was trying to recover from the Covid-crashed economies.

Thank you so very much for your good wishes to my historic birthday. I really had a blast. For four days we imagined to be on a fun-cruise, with Anneliese the coordinator and I the captain. We even managed to „sail“ over to our magical island for a good swim. So we celebrated my 90th and yesterday Karl‘s 61st in a maritime way and with delicious meals prepared by Michelin Chef Isabel.It’s almost fun to get older, or as a birthday card said “the more birthdays you have, the brighter you glow.” Thanks for sharing my big celebration. Warm Caribbean greetings from Horst & family.

Where will the money come from for the goals of COP29 or any other climate targets?

Good news! Gaza polio campaign resumes.

Dear colleagues, I hope you are well. Earlier this week, UNICEF senior management came together virtually at the Global Leadership Meeting where we discussed many critical issues – including some of the difficult decisions we will face in the coming days. I'd like to share some thoughts with you based on the very rich conversation and presentations we had in the meeting.

Video shared by Sree Gururaja Sending this beautiful sunrise video captured by Dr Suresh on 15th Feb at Pondicherry on the west coast of south India. He was participating @ the Unicef Pensioners Group- India (UPGI) Reunion. Sree

CONSTRUCTED TO CELEBRATE 2,500 YEARS OF PERSIA, BUT RENAMED ‘AZADI TOWER’ FOR THE 1979 REVOLUTION ( photo: Wikipedia ) While writing about the visit to Iran in 2003 for OXFAM/UNICEF assisting the Iranian Government to prepare for a possible influx of refugees from Iraq, I kept having flashbacks to my first visit in 1975-78, some 50 years ago when the Shah was still sitting on the Peacock Throne and the name Ruhollah Khomeini was almost unknown.

Article shared by Robert Cohen I greatly admire Gary Barker's courage and principles. Robert Cohen Click here for the article Author - Gary Barker is the President and CEO of Equimundo Summary highlights the increasing global pushback against gender equality, linking it to rising authoritarianism. In Istanbul, male bus drivers resisted gender equality training, influenced by anti-‘gender ideology’ rhetoric. Similarly, in the Czech Republic, feminist activists and lawmakers see the resurgence of right-wing populism as a threat to democracy and women’s rights, emboldened by figures like Trump. The legacy of Františka Plamínková, a feminist leader executed by the Gestapo for opposing Hitler, serves as a reminder that advocating for gender justice is an act of resistance against broader oppression. Trump’s policies, including his administration’s restrictions on discussions of gender and diversity, continue to have global ripple effects, silencing feminist voices and emboldening anti-...

Article shared by Viviane Sakkal Click here for the article and or view the trailer below Boy, 11, living alone in Gaza hospital, has 'witnessed scenes no child should see' Zakaria is 11 and helps at one of the biggest hospitals in Gaza – al-Aqsa – under the mentorship of an experienced paramedic. As war raged across the strip, he could be found carrying wounded and traumatised victims into the emergency ward for treatment, wiping blood from his hands as he went about his duties. He says he has seen thousands of dead bodies. He is one of three children who are the focus of a new BBC documentary, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone. Others featured include Renad, 10, who stars in her own cookery show on social media, and Abdullah, 13, who leads the viewers on a tour of the "humanitarian zone" as he narrates the programme. The documentary was directed from the UK by Jamie Roberts and Yousef Hammash, working with Gaza-based cameramen Amjad Al Fayoumi and Ibrahim Abu Ishaib. ...

Article shared by Niloufar Pourzand Click here for the article The author Tammam Aloudat is a Syrian Swiss physician and humanitarian worker. He is currently the president of MSF Netherlands and a member of MSF International Board. Summary Aloudat reflects on the moral decline and increasing politicization of humanitarianism. He argues that humanitarian institutions have shifted from advocating for crisis-affected people to prioritizing donor interests and geopolitical agendas. The multilateral system supporting humanitarian work is collapsing, exposing Western hypocrisy and selective engagement in crises like Syria, Gaza, and Sudan. Rather than minor reforms, the author calls for a radical remaking of humanitarianism—one that challenges systemic power imbalances, rejects paternalism, and aligns with broader struggles against colonialism, capitalism, and structural violence. They emphasize that simply restoring funding, as after the Trump-era aid freeze, won’t fix the deeper failures o...

Article shared by Ken Gibbs One of our friends from university days (at Cape Town University), is an ex-Namibian of Portuguese/Afrikaans lineage whose command of English is formidable. She is a widow, now living in a gated community in Johannesburg. Naturally, our conversations are usually about current events, and the attached piece is one such. I commend it to you. Remaining on the Trump/Musk axis for a bit longer, and referring to the article attached above, it strikes me that Trump and his minions have affected us in the United Nations, as well. The latest news of the USA forcing a vote on acceptance of the UNICEF Country Programmes at the ExBoard, was ‘a jolt’ for me, but it stimulated my little grey cells again. Good. If the US Administration is now minded to play these sort of games, why doesn’t UNICEF return the compliment, as it were ? This might be the ideal time for the ExBoard to vote for the next ExDirs to be non-US citizens which would widen the potential pool of t...

Click here for the article Somalia has launched today a four-day nationwide polio vaccination campaign targeting 2.5 million children under the age of five in the consequential States, Jubaland, Hirshabelle, Southwest, Galmudug and Benaadir Regional Administration.

Article shared by Niloufar Pourzand Click here for the article Summary Ghanaian President John Mahama warned that U.S. aid cuts risk diminishing its global influence as Africa seeks new partners.

Article shared by Niloufar Pourzand A gruesome graph released prior to the Munich Security Conference listed 23 countries that will lose more than 1% of their national income if — despite a federal judge’s order — the USAID funding freeze lasts for a full year. Eight countries face a hit of 3% or more.

Article shared by John Gilmartin This is great news, long long overdue, very low cost, heat stable, simple, now is time to move it through field testing.  

Article shared by Tom McDermott Click here for the article Summary In Goma, the humanitarian aid response has been severely hampered by insecurity, looting, and a lack of funding. Aid organizations are struggling to provide help due to restricted access, damaged infrastructure, and a freeze on U.S. funding, which had previously accounted for nearly 70% of the humanitarian support in the region.

Article shared by Kul Gautam and Niloufar Pourzand Click here for the article On Jan. 24, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued an exemption to the foreign aid freeze: a waiver for lifesaving humanitarian programs. But over the last three weeks, nothing about the waivers has gone according to plan. Summary The U.S. government's freeze on foreign aid has already had dire consequences. The freeze, part of a broader funding suspension under the Trump administration, has severely impacted humanitarian organizations working to address crises worldwide, including in Yemen, Uganda, Haiti, and Syria. Millions of people, particularly vulnerable populations such as children and refugees, are being denied life-saving assistance. Humanitarian staff are in limbo, struggling to navigate a complex waiver system designed to allow some programs to continue but often failing to provide the necessary funds or clarity. Yemen Crisis: Millions of children are on the brink of starvation due to the ongoin...

Not having seen an obituary in the weekly digest, I wonder if you have been informed that Maggie Murray-Lee passed away on Monday 20 January in New Zealand, her native country.

Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun Article shared by Tom McDermott Click here for the article Summary A diplomatic dispute over which country should act as the United Nations Security Council's "penholder" on Afghanistan has become a significant issue between the United States and China.

Appeal shared by Kul Gautam Encouraging to note the outpouring of support for USAID from a large cross-section of US NGOs. I wish the Republicans would pay heed... Kul

Greetings from Bhutan.  I am here to help UNICEF Bhutan develop a Second Decade Strategy for UNICEF for adolescents and young people. As part of my schedule, I delivered a lecture on the SDGs to about 60 B.A. students and 10 Faculty members of the Faculty Sustainable Development, Center for Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan in Punakha. 

The long awaited XUNICEF Reunion, organised by Mary Racelis, Ces Adorno and other colleagues, was a grand success. Beautiful natural wonders, historic museums and interesting sight seeing kept the participants busy and engaged, eager to see and do more. The XUNICEF group of around sixty colleagues enjoyed the Philippines savouring the culinary delights and witnessing the cultural diversity from Metro Manila to Bohol. Gautam's brief report gives us the highlights and some pictures as we wait for longer reports and more from others. The photos are plenty and can be viewed in the photo gallery if you follow this (Manila) and this (Bohol) link to the two albums. We also invite you to add to the albums your contributions of memories from the Reunion. The Manila 2025 XUNICEF Reunion was a wonder of wonders! We learnt, both Madhu and I, that the waters of an archipelago do not divide but unite to bridge the gap. We learnt of the rich diversity the islands hold and yet remain bound tog...

Feature: Gautam Banerji gives us a first glimpse of the 2025 XUNICEF Reunion that took place in Manila. About 60 former colleagues attended and apparently enjoyed culinary delights and witnessed the cultural diversity from Metro Manila to Bohol. We also do have two photo albums from Manila ( click here ) and the excursion to Bohol ( click here ) which presently contains 150  and 50 photos respectively. If you have attended the Reunion and do wish to contribute photographs, you can upload them directly into the albums. We are sure that someone is working on a full report of the gathering, which we will post here once received.

  Cuts in US foreign assistance hit programmes in many countries, resulting in layoffs of NGO workers international and local, disputes over the reasons behind M23's capture of Goma, US hits ICC and top prosecutor with sanctions, intensified Isreali raids in West Bank lead to widespread displacement, deaths and injuries, UN halts operations in Houthi controled areas following arrests of more UN staff. 

Video shared by Tom McDermott  Click here to watch the short film (10 minutes) A film produced for Zeteo by Palestinian filmmaker Ibrahim Abu Ishaiba. The 10-minute film tells the story of 37-year-old paramedic and father of five, Shadi Altatari, returning with his family to the ruins of their home in northern Gaza after 15 months of Israel’s bombardment.

Article shared by Robert Cohen Good piece. Robert Max Lawson is the Head of Inequality Policy at Oxfam International and EQUALS podcast co-host. He is also the co-chair of the Global People’s Medicines Alliance. Summary Max Lawson argues that global aid is under threat, with right-wing governments cutting budgets and attacking its legitimacy, while even left-wing critics view it as a colonial relic. Despite these criticisms, he strongly defends aid as a life-saving necessity, citing successes like HIV/AIDS treatment programs funded by the Global Fund and PEPFAR. He emphasizes aid's role in reducing inequality through public health, education, and climate protection. Lawson makes the case for reframing the conversation around aid, avoiding terms like "foreign aid" and emphasizing its relatively small cost to rich countries. He also advocates linking aid to broader structural issues such as tax justice and inequality, arguing that wealthier individuals and corporations sho...

Article shared by Ellen Tolmie Summary: The United States has warned U.N. agencies, including UNICEF, UN Women, and the World Food Programme (WFP), against focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and gender ideology. This follows U.S. President Donald Trump's broader efforts to eliminate DEI initiatives and "gender ideology" from federal government policies and discourage them in international organizations. U.S. opposition was made clear at UNICEF’s executive board meeting, where it forced an unprecedented vote over routine documents, seeking to remove DEI references. Eritrea, speaking on behalf of eight African nations, defended DEI as essential for ensuring no child is left behind. U.S. diplomat Jonathan Shrier argued that DEI programs "replace hard work, merit, and equality" with a "dangerous preferential hierarchy." Other U.N. organizations, such as WFP, advised staff to avoid controversial DEI-related language to avoid U.S. backlash. UN ...

Happy Birthday, dear Horst.  May your big day on February 17th be a wonderful celebration with your family and friends.  We thank you for your many contributions over the years to the UN, UNICEF and XUNICEF, and especially to  News & Views.   We could be with you, Isabel and all the family in beautiful St. Croix to help you celebrate the day. The Editors A Birthday Ditty from Fouad and Nadia He is our "Der Alte" in the island of St. Croix * And I really do not mean to be coy, But his 90th.dob must be full of joy. Since we cannot buy him a toy, (He is definitely a grownup boy) And there is no need for us to annoy Him, we hope this DITTY he can enjoy. (* Pronounced Saint Croy) Dear Horst here is a toast Of which we can all boast Your friends from coast to coast Real ones, none is a ghost. For 2 XUNICEF reunions you were host, It must be a record as the most, Whose memories cannot be lost As in our Blog we have a post. Your spouse will cook a juicy roast...

Dear XUNICEF friends,  How are you? I wanted to suggest - and you might have already done so - that we all reach out to the MPs we know or are in our area and for whom we may have voted - asking them what their position is and what they are doing about the unprecedented onslaught on multilateralism / internationalism / the UN / civil society / International Development / Humanitarian Work by the US / other Conservative / Right-Wing Governments / parties and group in a number of countries.

Message Forwarded by Moira Hart-Poliquin and Angela Raven Roberts Hello Angela, This is Kamal, Sandra's son. As you know my mom's health isn't doing very well and although she is getting so much love and care from family and friends like you. I thought it would be nice if she had a video compilation from all of her loved ones letting her know how much she means to them to cheer her up as she's battling her cancer diagnosis. I would be very appreciative if you could contribute by sharing a thirty-second to one-minute video of you to remind her every day of how much she is loved. I do not know many of her work friends but I thought it would be great if you could help by reaching out to people who care for her from her time at the UN. I know she touched so many people while working there and unicef. I would like to create this video for her in the next week or two so for whoever's interested please email the video to kamalhaji914@gmail.com or text it to me via messag...