Humanitarian action and emergencies

Respiratory viruses like coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread when mucus or droplets containing the virus get into your body through your eyes, nose or throat. Most often, this happens through your hands. Hands are also one of the most common ways that the virus spreads from one person to the next. During a global pandemic, one of the cheapest,…

NEW YORK, 11 March 2020 – “Characterizing COVID-19 as a pandemic is not an indication that the virus has become deadlier. Rather, it is an acknowledgement of the disease’s geographical spread. “UNICEF has been preparing and responding to the epidemic of COVID-19 around the world, knowing that the virus could spread to children and families in any…

SHANGHAI, CHINA, 1 March 2020 – The latest UNICEF shipment of medical supplies for health workers, weighing more than 12 tons, was delivered to the Government of China in Shanghai today to support its response to the COVID-19 virus outbreak. The 100 cubic meter consignment, procured by UNICEF from Germany, includes masks, protective clothing,…

Five-year-old Yuanyuan* is from Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, also known as COVID-19. Her parents and grandparents tested positive for COVID-19 and were admitted to a hospital. She was the only one in her family not infected with the virus and was left behind at home. Medical personnel in the hospital decided to…

New York, 17 February 2020 – UNICEF urgently needs $42.3 million to scale up its response to the Covid-19 virus outbreak and support global efforts to contain it. “This is a race against time,” said UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore. “The immediate focus is to reduce human to human transmission but also to help children in areas where…

To stay prepared and protect yourself and your loved ones, it is important to know the facts. Be sure to get your facts from reliable sources, like UNICEF,the World Health Organization, and government agencies UNICEF is working with experts around the clock to provide accurate information. Information you can trust is grounded in the latest…, Latest updates, Read the latest news, information and features on COVID-19., Protective measures against COVID-19, Most people who become infected experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for others. Take care of your health and protect others by doing the following: Go back to top, Must-reads for parents, caregivers and teachers, UNICEF is here to be your partner in navigating this health crisis by providing you with accurate and reliable information on the ways to keep you and others safe. Here are some of things you can do to manage the challenges that COVID-19 has brought: Go back to top, Must-reads for young people, For young people feeling anxious, isolated and disappointed, know this: you are not alone. Here’s what you can do to look after yourself and your mental health: Go back to top, Media resources, UNICEF’s media team is working around the clock to provide the latest information on the COVID-19 response through press releases, statements, multimedia and other resources for journalists. Go back to top, Must-reads for employers, Recommendations for employers to mitigate the negative consequences stemming from COVID-19.

What is a ‘novel’ coronavirus? A novel coronavirus (CoV) is a new strain of coronavirus. The disease caused by the novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China, has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – ‘CO’ stands for corona, ‘VI’ for virus, and ‘D’ for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as ‘2019 novel coronavirus’…

Lilongwe, 11 December 2019 – The Chinese Government has provided US$1 million to UNICEF to help families recovering from the effects of the March 2019 floods in Malawi. This includes funds for water treatment chemicals, nutrition therapeutic treatment supplies, iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementary tablets for adolescent girls, child protection…

29 October 2019, Beijing – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and China International Development and Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) signed an agreement on 17 October to provide USD 2 million in humanitarian assistance to Mozambique's families and children affected by Cyclone Idai. Cyclone Idai, which hit southern Africa earlier in March, is…

Challenges, China is prone to natural disasters, including floods, typhoons, drought, high winds, earthquakes, blizzards, frost, and forest fires, as well as epidemics and other public health emergencies. The Government of China has developed a strong national capacity for emergency preparedness and response. This includes monitoring systems to detect when…, Resources, These resources on education represent just a small selection of materials produced by UNICEF and its partners in the last two years. The list is regularly updated to include the latest information. Strengthening Capacity in Emergency Preparedness and Response for Children in China and Beyond COVID-19 Support us, Solutions, UNICEF is working with the Government of China to strengthen responses through a child-rights perspective. UNICEF is also helping to mitigate the risks that could affect children. This includes sharing knowledge, good practices and lessons, and providing technical assistance to support our counterparts’ preparedness, response and recovery. UNICEF’…