UNICEF

“Since the ceasefire was announced in October 2025, 265 Palestinian children have been killed across Gaza. That is an absurd and devastating figure. During a period supposedly defined by restraint and protection, a child has been killed, on average, every single day for more than eight months.

Let us be clear about what this means. These children were not killed in a warzone. They were killed in their homes. In their schools. Playing football. Fishing. They were shot, bombed, and struck by quadcopters." - James Elder, UNICEF Spokesperson

Full remarks: https://unicef.link/4vgE1qY

Drought + extreme heat + heatwaves

This is the most widespread combination of climate hazards, endangering 296 million children worldwide. Our new report sheds light on the challenges and solutions : https://unicef.link/3Q6Pz0O

In Umčari, Serbia, everyone knows 12-year-old Stefan as a cheerful, kind and witty boy who loves music, board games and animals.

Getting to where he is today wasn’t always simple. Growing up, spoken words didn’t come easily for him. He communicated through gestures, nodding, smiling and a few basic words.

As Stefan grew older and his world expanded, it became clear to his family, teachers and classmates that he had much more to say than he could express.

That’s when his school, family and a wider network of services and institutions came together, with UNICEF support, to make sure he received the assistive technology he needed.

A year ago, Stefan received his communicator.

Since then, his world has opened up. He can now ask and answer questions, share what he wants, take part in group work, talk to his classmates and tell his family about his day.

In music class, Stefan often initiates conversations with his teacher and friends. His classmates say he seems more relaxed, happier and more confident.

Assistive technology isn’t a magic wand, but with the right support it can break down barriers to communication, learning and friendship.

For Stefan, it has helped make sure his voice is heard.

When a child feels safe, seen and loved, their brain grows differently.

While for many parents bonding with their child comes naturally, for others it takes more time and effort. But the good news is that parenting skills can be learned at any stage.

What you need to know about parent-child attachment Learn about the importance of bonding with your child and ways to do it

Nihal, 7, depends on her sister for comfort while living in a camp for those displaced in Sudan.

She and her family fled the war in Al Fasher, and she still feels the impact of what happened.

“I don’t sleep well at night,” she says. “I still recall the sound of the gunshots, and I’m so afraid of them.”

Life in the camp is difficult. Her mother walks long distances to fetch water for them.

“I feel safe when I am with my sister and afraid when I am not,” Nihal says.

Despite everything, she wishes all children could be safe and in school again.

UNICEF has been supporting the essential needs of children and families displaced by the ongoing conflict in Sudan, but what they really need is long-lasting peace.

247 children have been killed and 992 injured in Lebanon since 2 March.

Many have fled their homes multiple times, witnessed violence first-hand, lost loved ones, and seen their schools, communities, and sense of safety shattered.

"The numbers alone cannot convey the full scale of the crisis. Beyond those killed and maimed, an entire generation of children has seen its childhood disrupted. Their sense of safety – one that every child needs to grow and thrive – remains profoundly undermined.

With renewed hope for hostilities to halt, children need more than an end to violence - they require protection, sustained support to restore access to essential services, and to be offered a consistent pathway to recovery and a safer future.” - UNICEF Country Representative in Lebanon, Marcoluigi Corsi. UNICEF Lebanon

“UNICEF reiterates its urgent call for a sustained cessation of hostilities. Children need to be protected from further harm and schools, hospitals, water systems and other civilian infrastructure urgently safeguarded. Humanitarian access must be ensured and international law must be respected.”

Read more: https://unicef.link/4uFccaQ

Nearly half of the world’s children – or 1.1 billion – are exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards, threatening their health, education and survival.

Learn how your government can protect children and the services they rely on. Our new report: https://unicef.link/4s1c2td

Stability. Prosperity. Peace.

This is what strategic investment in children looks like.

In 2025, overlapping crises pushed children’s needs to unprecedented levels, while the resources to help them declined sharply.

Despite the challenges, this is how UNICEF continued to deliver everywhere.

https://unicef.link/4xx7632