South Sudan
Opposition forces allege that government troops killed at least 25 civilians, including women and children, in what they describe as a "massacre" in Pankor, Ayod county. The killings come as fighting in Jonglei state has displaced more than 280,000 people since December, with UNICEF warning of widespread sexual violence, a near-total absence of GBV services, and a cholera outbreak that has now reached 98,000 cases nationally.
Opposition forces allege that government troops killed at least 25 civilians, including women and children, in what they describe as a "massacre" in Pankor, Ayod county. The killings come as fighting in Jonglei state has displaced more than 280,000 people since December, with UNICEF warning of widespread sexual violence, a near-total absence of GBV services, and a cholera outbreak that has now reached 98,000 cases nationally.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, visiting Juba, secured a pledge from President Salva Kiir of unimpeded access for relief agencies — though aid workers say ground access remains unpredictable and several planned missions have already been denied. A nurse in Jonglei told AFP: "Our government is supposed to protect our lives but unfortunately turned on us. Our hope is gone."
Syria
Al-Hol camp has been rapidly depopulated after Syrian government forces took control in January, with 15,000–20,000 people — more than 95 percent of them women and children — now unaccounted for following a chaotic, uncoordinated exodus. Tthose moved to Idlib report being held captive and unregistered, unable to secure repatriation.
Al-Hol camp has been rapidly depopulated after Syrian government forces took control in January, with 15,000–20,000 people — more than 95 percent of them women and children — now unaccounted for following a chaotic, uncoordinated exodus. Tthose moved to Idlib report being held captive and unregistered, unable to secure repatriation.
"Families who were moved cannot be certain whether they have been liberated or effectively kidnapped," said Beatrice Eriksson of Repatriate the Children. Human Rights Watch researcher Sarah Sanbar warned that women and children leaving in a chaotic, unplanned way "often just become more vulnerable to trafficking, exploitation, or recruitment by armed groups." At the nearby Roj camp, still under Kurdish control, a European mother told Al Jazeera: "I'm with my children. To be honest, I often fall asleep in fear. We've been begging them to deport us for years."
Ukraine
On the fourth anniversary of the war UNICEF reports that more than 3,200 children have been killed since February 2022. More than 2.5 million Ukrainian children remain displaced, 1,700 schools have been damaged or destroyed, and millions of families are enduring sub-zero temperatures with no heat, electricity, or water. UNICEF's Ukraine representative Munir Mammadzade talks about the current situation in a CNN video interview.
On the fourth anniversary of the war UNICEF reports that more than 3,200 children have been killed since February 2022. More than 2.5 million Ukrainian children remain displaced, 1,700 schools have been damaged or destroyed, and millions of families are enduring sub-zero temperatures with no heat, electricity, or water. UNICEF's Ukraine representative Munir Mammadzade talks about the current situation in a CNN video interview.
Myanmar
Airstrikes killed at least five children and injured three others in Rakhine State and Sagaing region on February 23 and 24, with strikes in Rakhine reported to have hit homes and a busy local market in a village hosting displaced families. UNICEF called on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, warning that ongoing clashes continue to cut children off from health care, education and protection.
Airstrikes killed at least five children and injured three others in Rakhine State and Sagaing region on February 23 and 24, with strikes in Rakhine reported to have hit homes and a busy local market in a village hosting displaced families. UNICEF called on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, warning that ongoing clashes continue to cut children off from health care, education and protection.
US Funding Cuts - Oxfam America president Abby Maxman cites the Lancet study that found the shutdown has already cost an estimated 300,000 lives and warns that 14 million more could die by 2030 if the programs remain shuttered - including 4.5 million children under five. He describes the USAID shutdown as "intentionally chaotic," noting that the $35 billion agency represented just one percent of the U.S. budget — a fraction of the tax cuts now flowing to the wealthiest Americans.
Early warning - Not as obvious as other victims of cuts in funding is the quiet dismantling of the global early warning system for food crises. WFP conducted 300,000 fewer household interviews in 2025 than in 2024 and cut real-time market monitoring by a third. In Sudan, fewer than half of planned child malnutrition surveys actually took place despite famine conditions. Authors warn that shrinking data means aid will reach fewer of the people who need it most — even as donors demand better targeting.
Child Labour
The Marrakech Declaration adopted at the close of the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour commits the international community to ending child labour by 2030 — a goal the world failed to meet under the SDGs. With 138 million children still in child labour globally, including 54 million in hazardous work, ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo said the problem is not a lack of solutions but the failure to implement them at scale. Africa carries the heaviest burden, with 87 million affected children, most in smallholder agriculture.
The Marrakech Declaration adopted at the close of the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour commits the international community to ending child labour by 2030 — a goal the world failed to meet under the SDGs. With 138 million children still in child labour globally, including 54 million in hazardous work, ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo said the problem is not a lack of solutions but the failure to implement them at scale. Africa carries the heaviest burden, with 87 million affected children, most in smallholder agriculture.
Comments
Post a Comment
If you are a member of XUNICEF, you can comment directly on a post. Or, send your comments to us at xunicef.news.views@gmail.com and we will publish them for you.