Help Children to Recover from Interruption
and Learning Losses Experienced through the Pandemic
Suffering in one form or other has been and will be part of several lives. While the world must handle several natural disasters and the aftermath of the destruction they caused, it must also handle several conflicts and wars. Whether war or natural disaster, one organisation comes to the rescue by providing food, clean water, medical supplies, and, above all, care, and that is UNICEF. Helping those in need is what those who are saved from these tragedies can do and be kind to them. It is essential to help a child in need. The importance of ensuring the well-being of children for a just world of the future need not be over-emphasised. We must improve the world for the next generation and help them achieve their dreams. UNICEF Day is celebrated on December 11 every year. This year it is the 76th anniversary. It is a reminder of the need for work on the sustainable development of children and youth by eradicating hunger, ensuring that their rights are not violated, and removing prejudices based on race, region, or religion. According to UNICEF, more than 100 million people will need humanitarian assistance this year, which could go up to 170 million. It is estimated that 1 in 10 children has a disability, and the number gets multiplied during emergencies. In the 1980s, 10% of children died from preventable causes. The good news is that it has declined to 3%. Every child deserves what is due for them, growing up in loving, nurturing and safe environments. UNICEF is working to save the lives of children, protect their rights, let them live the childhood every child deserves and give them a fair chance to fulfil their potential. UNICEF says, “We are UNICEF. We stand for every child, everywhere. And we never give up.”
Suffering in one form or other has been and will be part of several lives. While the world must handle several natural disasters and the aftermath of the destruction they caused, it must also address the consequences of several conflicts and wars. Whether war or natural disaster, one organisation comes to the rescue by providing food, clean water, medical supplies, and, above all, care, and that is UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund). In every such event or occasion, ordinary people, especially children, take the major brunt of the consequences. Helping those in need is what those who are saved from these tragedies can do and be kind to them. It is essential to help a child in need. The importance of ensuring the well-being of children for a just world of the future need not be over-emphasised. We must improve the world for the next generation and help them achieve their dreams.
UNICEF Day is celebrated on December 11 every year. It is an acknowledgement of the work being done for the welfare of less privileged and needy children across the globe. The observation started in the year 1946 during World War II. This year it is the 76th anniversary of UNICEF Day. It is a reminder of the need for work on the sustainable development of children and youth by eradicating hunger, ensuring that their rights are not violated, and removing prejudices based on race, region, or religion. What started to help the situation arising from the world war evolved into a permanent wing of the UN in 1953. In 1950, the mandate was extended to address the long-term needs of children and women. It was renamed United Nations Children’s Fund but retained the original acronym, UNICEF. The Convention on the Rights of the Child guides it. Works in more than 190 countries and does whatever is needed to help children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential from early childhood through adolescence.
According to UNICEF, more than 100 million people will need humanitarian assistance this year, which could go up to 170 million. It is estimated that 1 in 10 children has a disability, and the number gets multiplied during emergencies. In the 1980s, 10% of children died from preventable causes. The good news is it has declined to 3%.
There are many extraordinary contributions of UNICEF. Some of them are babies benefiting from kangaroo mother care (for prematurely born children), people and especially children affected by the devastation caused by the recent floods in Sindh and Baluchistan, and children of Haiti with vital health services. During the humanitarian crisis, UNICEF volunteers are there on the ground providing lifesaving medicines and support, bringing hope to the families. It has been the world’s largest provider of vaccines. When the COVID-19 Pandemic struck and became a global crisis, children suffered. Inequalities that exist in the world are exposed and hit hardest the children in the poorest countries and communities. UNICEF came to the rescue of many. It was the largest buyer of vaccines for COVID in the world.
UNICEF runs by voluntary contributions from donors, both government and private. A 36-member executive board governs it. It proposes an increase in program expenditure by 4% in the coming year to $23.3 billion. For the outstanding work done by UNICEF, it has received many recognitions. Some of them are the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965, the Indira Gandhi Prize in 1989 and the Princess of Asturias Award in 2006.
Every child deserves what is due for them, growing up in loving, nurturing and safe environments. UNICEF is working to save the lives of children, protect their rights, let them live the childhood every child deserves and give them a fair chance to fulfil their potential.
We are UNICEF. We stand for every child, everywhere.
UNICEF
And we never give up
