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Renewed hostilities in Yemen push over 12 million children deeper into crisis

Country: Yemen Source: UN Children's Fund More than 57,000 children displaced in past two weeks as children are killed, injured and reported missing AMMAN, 16 September 2026 – Renewed hostilities across Yemen are forcing families from their homes, killing and injuring children and disrupting access to health care and education, deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis, UNICEF warned today. More than 104,000 people, including over 57,000 children, have been displaced in just two weeks. Since 3 September, at least nine children have been reported killed and 12 injured, while three other children are reported missing following an attack on the road from Yemen’s western coast to Aden. The fighting across western Taiz, southern Hudaydah, Marib and other affected areas is cutting children off from essential services. Twenty-six UNICEF-supported health facilities have had services disrupted, while 243 schools have closed or had suspended learning, affecting more than 137,000 students. UNICEF is expanding its emergency response to reach up to 231,000 people affected by the escalation. Assistance is already underway, with support to health facilities, hygiene kits and water tanks distributed in Taiz, additional water and hygiene supplies provided in Marib, and nine health and nutrition mobile teams redeployed to displacement sites and affected communities in Aden, Marib and Taiz. Emergency water and sanitation support aims to reach more than 200,000 people with safe water, hygiene supplies and urgent repairs to damaged systems. Child protection teams are providing psychosocial care and case management, including for unaccompanied and separated children, and helping communities reduce the risks posed by explosive ordnance. “Children in Yemen were already living through one of the world’s most grave humanitarian crises, and many have known little but conflict and displacement,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. “Now, tens of thousands of families have been forced from their homes in just two weeks, many fleeing only with what they can carry. For children who have already endured years of hunger, displacement and disrupted schooling, this latest violence is eroding what little stability they had left.” The impact of the escalation is also being felt across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. More than 2,000 people, including many children, have arrived in Djibouti after a dangerous crossing marked by extreme heat, dehydration and protection risks. UNICEF is working with authorities to support newly arrived families with safe water, hygiene and sanitation services, child protection support and referrals for the most vulnerable children. Even before the latest escalation, an estimated 12.2 million children in Yemen needed humanitarian assistance. More than 2.2 million children under five are acutely malnourished, including over 515,000 children with severe acute malnutrition, while 3.2 million school-aged children are out of school. Around 17.8 million people lack adequate access to healthcare, water and sanitation services, with only 60 per cent of health facilities fully functional. UNICEF reiterates the call of the Secretary-General for all parties to the conflict to protect civilians, including children, comply with international humanitarian law, and facilitate safe and unimpeded humanitarian access so that urgently needed assistance can reach communities in need. Media contacts Louise Wateridge UNICEF Amman Email: lwateridge@unicef.org Salim Oweis UNICEF MENA Tel: +962- 70-936- 5212 Email: soweis@unicef.org Joe English UNICEF New York Tel: +1 917 893 0692 Email: jenglish@unicef.org #####

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN Children's Fund16 Sept

World: Education Strategy: Shaping the Future of Learning (September 2026)

Country: World Source: UN Children's Fund Please refer to the attached file. Highlights With fewer than five years remaining to achieve SDG 4, the global learning crisis has become one of the defining challenges of our time. Across the world, education systems are facing a profound challenge in ensuring that every child achieves meaningful learning outcomes, with millions still not gaining the knowledge, skills and opportunities they need to thrive. At the same time, rapid technological, social and environmental change is raising a more fundamental question: can education systems designed for an earlier era prepare children for the future they will inherit? UNICEF's experience shows that improving education outcomes will require not only stronger systems, but also a reimagining of how, where and when children learn. Shaping the Future of Learning, UNICEF's Education Strategy 2026, responds to this urgent challenge. The strategy sets out UNICEF's vision for accelerating learning, equity and skills development for every child and adolescent, while supporting countries to transform education systems at scale. Building on the foundation of the Education Strategy 2019-2030, it clarifies the priorities, operating model and partnerships required to drive impact and serves as a roadmap for implementing UNICEF's Strategic Plan 2026-2029.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN Children's Fund16 Sept

UNICEF Myanmar Humanitarian Situation Report No. 1 (Mid-Year), January-June 2026

Country: Myanmar Source: UN Children's Fund Please refer to the attached file. Highlights Myanmar’s humanitarian situation continued to deteriorate over the reporting period. Ongoing conflict and displacement, compounded by the fuel crisis and economic decline, continued to drive acute needs, with 16.2 million people, including 4.9 million children, requiring humanitarian assistance. Nearly 3.8 million people were internally displaced, as of June 2026. Landmine incidents, displacement and protection risks continued to escalate, while seasonal flooding and disease risks further increased vulnerabilities among affected populations. Despite escalating humanitarian needs and access constraints, UNICEF and partners reached 326,503 people with primary health care, 472,742 children with education support, 487,036 people with MHPSS services, and 315,169 people with critical WASH supplies during the first half of 2026. UNICEF appealed for US$267.2 million to address the needs of 3.3 million people in 2026. By mid-2026, the funding level stood at US$95.4 million, with a gap of US$171.7 million (64 per cent). Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs The humanitarian situation in Myanmar continued to deteriorate with ongoing conflict, recurrent natural hazards, and economic decline in 2026. Ongoing hostilities, including airstrikes, resulted in widespread displacement and civilian casualties.1 The humanitarian situation remained acute, with 16.2 million people, including 4.9 million children, in need of humanitarian assistance.2 By the end of June 2026, nearly 3.8 million people were internally displaced3 - an increase of 154,400 newly displaced since the end of 2025 - while an additional 1.6 million people were refugees and asylum seekers in neighbouring countries. The humanitarian situation was aggravated by recurrent natural hazards and seasonal climatic shocks. Communities already affected by conflict and displacement faced acute water shortages during the dry season, while the monsoon season heightened the risk of flooding, landslides, and outbreaks of water-borne diseases. These hazards further strained limited coping capacities and exacerbated existing vulnerabilities. In the last week of June 2026, heavy rains caused flooding in five townships in Kachin State, disrupting livelihoods and access to essential services in affected communities. The spillover effects of the ongoing Middle East conflict and associated disruptions to global energy markets contributed to rising fuel prices, fuel shortages, and increased transportation costs. According to WFP market monitoring, the average food basket cost in June was estimated to be 20 per cent higher than in February 2026, with significant price increases reported in Rakhine and Magway due to transport disruption and reduced market availability.5 If these conditions persist, an estimated 3.5–5 million additional people could become food insecure, adding to the 12.4 million people already facing food insecurity nationwide. Rising poverty is compounding these pressures, with growing numbers of families adopting negative coping strategies, including reduced food consumption, child labour and early marriage. These overlapping shocks are compounding humanitarian needs and increasing vulnerabilities among vulnerable communities with limited access to markets, livelihoods, and basic services. During the first half of 2026, a total of 327 landmine and explosive ordnance (EO) incidents resulting in 487 civilian casualties were reported. Of these casualties, 113 were children (23 per cent).7 This was an increase over the second quarter of 2025, when there were 229 incidents with 357 casualties reported, of whom 33 were children (27 per cent). Access to basic health services was still critically constrained, particularly in Rakhine, Kayah, and Sagaing, where close to half of the population faces serious access challenges. Overcrowded living conditions, inadequate WASH services, and limited access to basic health care continued to elevate the risk of water‑borne and water‑related diseases. Cases of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) and skin infections were reported in Kachin, Sagaing, Mandalay, Chin and Rakhine. Vaccination coverage remained low, with 1.5 million children under five missing basic vaccinations since 2018, resulting in increased risk of vaccine-preventable disease. Increasing displacement continued to disrupt children’s access to education, with an estimated 3.4 million children in urgent need of educational support. Conflict-affected areas, including Sagaing, Magway, Chin, Kachin, Shan, Kayah, Kayin, Tanintharyi, and Rakhine faced increasing demand for safe and continuous learning opportunities for displaced and out-of-school children. Damage to education infrastructure, inadequate WASH facilities, shortages of learning materials, and limited availability of qualified educators persisted in displacement‑affected and hard‑to‑reach areas. Funding gaps, economic pressures, and rising costs increased drop-out risks, particularly among adolescents, while over‑age and conflict‑affected children faced continued barriers to structured learning pathways and transition to formal education, due to the lack of recognized accreditation. This highlights the urgent need for expanded learning pathways, safe learning spaces, individual learning materials, and mental health and psychological support (MHPSS). Kachin state continued to face a worsening humanitarian crisis with prolonged armed conflict, widespread displacement, economic collapse, deteriorating livelihoods, and climate shocks. The intensified conflict around Bhamo and Hpakant area in early 2026 and renewed clashes in Shwegu township caused sustained displacement, with over 228,000 people displaced internally during the reporting period, including the newly displaced population from the Sagaing region. Ongoing armed clashes, intensified military operations and airstrikes severely impacted civilians in the northwest, leading to large-scale displacement and exposing children and women to heightened protection risks. Magway region was among the hardest-hit areas, with more than 100,000 people displaced across Myaing, Pakokku, Pauk and Saw townships since mid-May. Many families in the northwest region had been displaced multiple times and were sheltering in monasteries or makeshift structures, with an urgent need for shelter, non-food items, hygiene kits, lighting, and educational supplies. During the reporting period, over 1.8 million people remained internally displaced in the northwest region.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN Children's Fund16 Sept

UNICEF Djibouti Humanitarian Flash Update No. 1 (Refugee influx from Yemen), 15 September 2026

Countries: Djibouti, Yemen Source: UN Children's Fund Please refer to the attached file. Highlights As of 12 September 2026, more than 2,350 people, at least half of them children, have arrived in Djibouti after fleeing escalating hostilities in Yemen. They have landed at various points along Djibouti’s northern coast near Obock. It is anticipated that these numbers will increase as fighting intensifies with an estimated number of 5,000 to 10,000 people arriving in country. Water, sanitation, shelter and health services at Markazi refugee village are already under acute strain. With overcrowding and weak water and sanitation systems, the risk of an acute watery disease resurgence is high, weeks after the last outbreak was brought under control. UNICEF is supporting the national response led by the Government of Djibouti and has deployed a multisectoral team to Obock and mobilized 7,500 litres of drinking water at entry points. Emergency latrines and water bladders are being installed at Markazi in collaboration with the Djiboutian Red Crescent (CRD). No unaccompanied or separated children have been reported to date. Identification and registration services remain ongoing as arrivals continue to increase. UNICEF requires USD 3 million to respond to the needs of up to 10,000 people over 6 months.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN Children's Fund16 Sept

Children in Ukraine face a fifth year of assault on their right to learn

Country: Ukraine Source: UN Children's Fund SUMY, 15 September 2026 – “Nearly five years into the war in Ukraine, children’s right to education remains under attack, with consequences that will define an entire generation. “Just 15 days into the new school year there have been over 1,000 air raid alerts across the country. This is the highest number for this period in the last five years and nearly double the same period last year. “It amounts to over 100 alerts every single day and at least four every hour. Sumy, where I am speaking to you from today, has been among the three regions hit hardest this year, together with Mykolaiv and Odesa. Nobody hears them louder and deeper than children. “I am now inside one of 22 underground shelters turned into schools that UNICEF has helped set up for children living near the frontlines. This one can host up to 300 children. Here in Sumy, essentially one in every two education facilities have been damaged or destroyed by the conflict. It is heartbreaking to see what should be a place of learning and protection turned into rubble. “Across the country, the picture is just as stark. According to government estimates between January and August this year, hundreds more educational institutions have been damaged, taking the overall toll in Ukraine to over 4200 since the start of the war. Children whose hope of simply going to school continues to be disrupted by conflict causing a seemingly never-ending cycle of trauma. “The cost to children is measured beyond broken walls, psychological scars and loud sirens. “Results from the latest OECD PISA, released last week, show us that a significant proportion of 15-year-olds in Ukraine who undertook the test – many of whom have spent the last five years of their schooling in war zones – have not yet reached a level of competency in the subject matters that would allow them to keep building on their education. This narrows their options for further study, skilled work, and full participation in society as adults down the line. “Around one third, did not reach that basic level of achievement in science, and about half did not reach it in maths or reading. When comparing this achievement to the overall OECD average, it is equivalent to a gap of 2 years of study for reading and 1.5 years of study for math and science. “Similarly, 56 per cent missed the baseline in at least one of the tested subjects: maths, reading and science; and nearly three in ten (or 29 per cent) failed to reach the baseline level in any of the three tested subjects. “According to school principals, 61 per cent of Ukrainian students attend schools affected by shortages of learning materials and equipment, and 54 per cent attended schools lacking enough digital resources. Because of security reasons, this data is only coming from 17 regions in Ukraine, so we can assume that schools closer to the frontlines are even less resourced. “Despite the war, Ukraine has demonstrated incredible resilience in sustaining the education system as verified by the stability of results between 2022 and 2025. However, as we continue to warn, children in Ukraine need peace to be able to learn properly. “After almost five years of war, school is one of the few places where a child can find some sense of normality – friends, teachers, routine, a place to feel safe. That matters, because this war is taking an enormous psychological toll on them. “Nine-year-old Sabrina told me yesterday how much she missed being able to be with her classmates, despite the dangers above the ground. ‘It is so nice to be together again and not learn online. I just miss our regular walks and playtime outside but now it’s too dangerous, so we stay inside all day,” she explained still sharing it as positive news. “Children like Sarbina have spent years waking to explosions, running to shelters, being displaced from their homes, separated from friends, wondering when the next attack will come. We see children struggling to sleep, to concentrate, to regulate their emotions. A child cannot simply leave that fear at the classroom door. “An air-raid siren means a maths lesson stops halfway through. Children leave their desks for shelter. They wait for the all-clear. They return. They try to concentrate again and then the siren sounds. It’s worth repeating: Children and parents do everything to study. But the impact of this war is clear and visceral. “Amid it all - and as a testament to parents, the Government and humanitarian partners - nearly 4.2 million children returned to learning this September, including over 712,000 preschoolers. More than 366,000 teachers also returned to their classrooms. “A significant number of children continue to depend on blended and fully online approaches, with a context in flux as the areas and number of attacks shift and escalate. Nearly half of preschool-aged children are missing out on regular early childhood education and care, losing opportunities to develop foundational skills for lifelong learning. “And now another threat is approaching. Winter. Attacks on infrastructure will cause electricity and heating disruption. Last year nearly two million children suffered in extreme winter conditions after being left without heat, electricity and water. Power cuts disrupted online lessons too, with the frontline areas like Sumy being hardest hit. “UNICEF’s 2026–2027 winter response is aiming to reach 3 million people, including 540,000 children. This will include repairing heating systems and providing energy back-up to schools. It will ensure that 375,000 students can keep learning, in-person, through the winter. With our partners, we are also rehabilitating school shelters, repairing education facilities damaged by attacks, supporting catch-up learning, and providing mental health and psychosocial support. “We are doing everything we can to keep children learning, but no amount of support can shield their education from the consequences of continued attacks.” ##### Notes to editors: The OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) assesses the knowledge, skills and attitudes of 15-year-old students. Ukraine participated for the first time in PISA in 2018. For the 2025 PISA there were 17 PISA participating jurisdictions in Ukraine, the following ten jurisdictions were not covered: Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Donetsk Oblast, Kharkiv Oblast, Luhansk Oblast, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Kherson Oblast, Mykolaiv Oblast, Sumy Oblast, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Follow this link for information on the PISA results for Ukraine.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN Children's Fund15 Sept
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Over 17,000 flood-affected children in Nepal need urgent mental health and psychosocial support

Country: Nepal Source: UN Children's Fund KATHMANDU, 15 September 2026 – Thousands of children affected by the recent devastating floods in Nepal require urgent mental health and psychosocial support to recover from the distress and trauma caused by the disaster, UNICEF said today. The floods have had a profound impact on children, many of whom witnessed the loss of loved ones, the destruction of homes and schools, displacement from their communities, and uncertainty over missing family members. An estimated 17,000 children require mental health and psychosocial support, while 541 unaccompanied and separated children remain at heightened risk and in need of protection services. These figures underscore the severe emotional and social toll the disaster has taken on children and families, and the urgent need for sustained protection and recovery support. "Beyond the visible destruction, these floods have left deep emotional scars on children and families," said Ms. Alice Akunga, UNICEF Representative to Nepal. "The floods struck during the school day, shattering children's sense of safety in an instant. Many children witnessed distressing events and are now struggling with fear, anxiety and grief, with some unable to speak about what they experienced. Alongside humanitarian supplies and restoration of critical infrastructure, children need mental health and psychosocial support to help them process what happened, regain a sense of security and begin to recover." “The invisible burden of trauma on flood-affected children and families is deeply distressing,” said Dr. Shitanshu Dhakal, Medical Officer at Trishuli Hospital in Nuwakot and former UNICEF Youth Advocate for mental health. “Fear can remain long after the disaster itself. Children must be at the centre of the mental health response, with immediate psychological first aid and sustained support to prevent long-term consequences.” Mental health and psychosocial support is a lifesaving component of the emergency response. Early interventions help children process distressing experiences, reduce anxiety, restore a sense of routine and safety, and strengthen resilience. Such support also enables the identification of children experiencing severe distress and facilitates referrals to specialized services. Children experiencing significant mental health and psychosocial difficulties may also face increased protection risks due to reduced coping capacity, social isolation, stigma and limited access to support services. UNICEF is working with government authorities and partners to protect children affected by the floods through family tracing, reunification and psychosocial support services. To date, 18 unaccompanied and separated children have been reunified with their families, while alternative family-based care is being arranged for children who have lost both parents. Community-based protection monitoring teams have been established along key transit and displacement routes to identify at-risk children, facilitate referrals and help prevent trafficking, exploitation and family separation. At the same time, UNICEF and partners are scaling up mental health and psychosocial support through Psychological First Aid and counselling services. Eighteen Child-Friendly Spaces, including 13 supported by UNICEF, are providing safe environments where children can play, learn and begin to recover, supported by an integrated network of psychologists, counsellors and frontline workers operating in displacement sites and affected communities. UNICEF continues to call for increased investment in child protection and mental health services to ensure that children affected by the floods receive the support they need to cope, recover and rebuild their lives. ##### Media contacts Florine Bos UNICEF Nepal Email: fbos@unicef.org Joe English UNICEF New York Tel: +1 917 893 0692 Email: jenglish@unicef.org

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN Children's Fund15 Sept

Cuba: Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 11 September 2026

Countries: Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached Infographic. KEY FIGURES 3.2M people in Cuba facing difficulties in accessing safe water, creating public health risks 1.9M people in Haiti faced IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) levels of food insecurity (March-June 2026) 1.3K people affected by clashes or confinement across northern Colombia CUBA: HEALTH/WATER Health partners in Cuba report significant rotavirus and norovirus outbreaks, which are straining an already overstretched health system and eroding its capacity to respond. An estimated 3.2 million people struggle to access safe water, and more households now rely on untreated sources. The country’s energy crisis, fuel shortages and chronic infrastructure failures are degrading water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. UNICEF warns that failing WASH services raise the risk of waterborne disease, particularly diarrhoeal illness among children. A recent United States Embassy health alert also flagged rising diarrhoeal disease tied to deteriorating water and power systems, and PAHO/WHO’s latest report identified water- and food-borne diseases as priority public health risks. ECUADOR: DISPLACEMENT The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) reported on 8 September that attacks on education in the provinces where it works reached 27 in the first half of 2026, nearly half in Guayas and El Oro. The attacks, including threats, shootings, extortion and killings, schools serving nearly 19,000 pupils. NRC ranks Ecuador third in the region for violence-driven internal displacement, behind Haiti and Colombia. UNHCR and Ecuador’s Ombudsperson’s Office report that organized crime violence, including death threats, extortion, recruitment and killings, has displaced more than 300,000 people over the past three years, a figure rights groups say may be higher. The Ministry of the Interior recorded 4,882 homicides from January to July, down from 5,295 a year earlier. HAITI: FOOD SECURITY Per the Food Security Cluster, 5.83 million people, 52 per cent of the population analysed, faced acute food insecurity in the second quarter of 2026, including 1.9 million in Phase 4. The national food basket cost 4 per cent more between April and May, and red beans remained scarce in several departments. Armed violence has spread from Port-au-Prince into the Artibonite and Centre, disrupting markets, livelihoods and essential services. Internal displacement reached 1.47 million in May, and the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area passed 300,000 displaced people for the first time after clashes in Cité Soleil. Food security partners reached 1.9 million of the 3.5 million people targeted from January to June, leaving 1.8 million without adequate assistance. COLOMBIA: DISPLACEMENT Fighting between non-state armed groups over territory has displaced or confined more than 1,300 people across northern Colombia. In Montecristo, Bolívar, over 880 people in five communities are confined, and armed groups have blocked food and fuel from entering. In Ituango, Antioquia, clashes displaced 339 people, who have settled in Ituango and Valdivia, while 37 families have remained confined in Tarazá since 27 August. A further 301 people in Medio San Juan, Chocó, are at risk of confinement, according to the Ombudsperson’s Office. In Nariño, an expanded military operation across three municipalities closed a public road and put roughly 1,500 people at risk of confinement, raising concerns over mobility restrictions and humanitarian access.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs11 Sept

Beyond the Numbers: How Gavi's Support Is Helping The Gambia Move Towards Reaching Every Child with Life-Saving Vaccines

Country: Gambia Source: World Health Organization Haruna Darboe stood beside the weighing scale, watching closely as a health worker recorded his three-month-old daughter's weight before administering her routine vaccinations at Serekunda Health Centre. As a first-time father, the moment carried more meaning than a routine clinic visit. It was reassurance that he was doing everything he could to protect his child. “As a first-time father, I want to do everything possible to protect my child,” he said. “Seeing my baby receive vaccines gives me confidence that she is growing up with the protection she needs.” Haruna’s experience reflects a broader effort underway across The Gambia to ensure children receive the life-saving vaccines they need to survive and thrive. During a recent Gavi mission to the country, members of the delegation visited Serekunda Health Centre alongside officials from the Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF and other partners. They met families, spoke with frontline health workers and observed how immunization services are helping protect communities against vaccine-preventable diseases. The impact of vaccination begins even before a child is born. During a routine antenatal care visit, expectant mother Oumou Trawally received vaccines designed to protect both her and her unborn baby. “Getting vaccinated during pregnancy gives me confidence that I am protecting myself and my baby,” she said. “It is one of the first things I can do to ensure my child has a healthy start in life.” From pregnancy through childhood and adolescence, vaccination provides a continuum of protection, helping families safeguard their health at every stage of life. Yet like many countries, The Gambia experienced disruptions to routine immunization during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving some children with missed doses. In response, the Ministry of Health, through the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), with support from Gavi and partners, intensified efforts to identify and vaccinate those children. Between January 2025 and March 2026, six nationwide rounds of Periodic Intensified Routine Immunization reached thousands of children, delivering more than 103,000 pentavalent, 76,000 measles-rubella and 108,000 oral polio vaccine doses to children across the country. “The numbers tell an important story, but they do not tell the whole story,” said Dr Oumie Jagne, WHO’s Global Polio Eradication and Immunization Officer in The Gambia. “Behind every child vaccinated is a family protected from the devastating consequences of vaccine-preventable diseases.” At Serekunda Health Centre, health worker Ebrima Jawara sees the difference in how health workers engage families. “We are seeing improvements in how we identify children who miss appointments and how we engage communities,” he said. “Parents are becoming more aware of the importance of vaccination, and health workers have received support to improve planning, monitoring and follow-up.” For Sain Sillah, those improvements have made it easier to keep her six-month-old baby on schedule with routine vaccinations. Holding her child during a clinic visit, she described the reassurance that comes from knowing what vaccines her baby needs and when to return. “Knowing when to come back and what vaccines my baby needs gives me peace of mind that I am doing the right thing for my child’s health,” she said. But protecting children also means knowing who may have been missed. WHO’s nationwide monitoring visited 4,311 households and assessed 3,913 children, helping health teams better understand where gaps remain. The benefits of immunization extend beyond childhood. In 2026, the same commitment extended to adolescent girls, with 47,208 HPV vaccine doses delivered nationwide, achieving 108.7% coverage and helping protect them from cervical cancer later in life. The country has also conducted a comprehensive review of its Expanded Programme on Immunization, assessed its Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination status, updated its National Immunization Policy and implemented the Big Catch Up to strengthen efforts to reach zero-dose and chronically missed children. These achievements demonstrate what sustained investment in immunization can mean for families: children protected from preventable diseases, parents empowered to make informed decisions, and health workers better equipped to reach those who need vaccination. Sustaining this progress will require continued investment in community engagement, follow-up systems, health-worker capacity and data quality as The Gambia and its partners prepare for the next phase of Gavi 6.0 (2026–2030) support. For families like Haruna’s, Oumou’s and Sain’s, immunization is about more than doses delivered. It is the confidence of a first-time father protecting his baby, an expectant mother taking an early step towards a healthy start, and a mother knowing when to return to keep her baby protected. Through its partnership with The Gambia, Gavi is helping strengthen the health workers, systems and services that make this protection possible — one child, one family and one vaccination at a time. Media contacts Halle Abdullahi Mohamed External Relations & Communications Officer WHO Gambia New Kotu Layout, Kotu, The Gambia Phone: +220 4462283 Mobile: +220 7200265 Email: halmohamed@who.int

ReliefWebReliefWeb•World Health Organization11 Sept

World: Safe to Move: Protecting Every Child’s Freedom to Move, Play, Learn and Dream

Country: World Source: FundLife International Every child should be able to move safely, have space to play, continue learning, and imagine a future beyond their circumstances. Yet for millions of children, conflict, displacement, climate hazards, poverty and unsafe communities continue to limit these basic freedoms. On September 11, 2026, FundLife International launched Safe to Move , a global initiative built around a simple shared belief: every child, everywhere, should be safe to move. Today, children are increasingly experiencing overlapping challenges. UNICEF estimates that 1.1 billion children are exposed to at least three climate hazards, while more than 473 million children live in areas affected by conflict. Close to 49 million children have also been displaced by conflict and violence. While these experiences differ, their impact can be similar: children lose safe spaces, learning is disrupted, opportunities to play and participate become limited, and their ability to imagine a different future becomes harder. “Children today are growing up in a world where disruption is becoming normal,” said Marko Kasic, Founder of FundLife International . “For some, that disruption is war. For others, it is displacement, flooding, extreme heat, poverty, or unsafe communities. The causes are different, but the consequence can be the same: children lose their right to a safe childhood.” Safe to Move responds to these realities through four interconnected commitments: Safe to Move , so every child can move safely; Free to Play , so every child has space to play and belong; Ready to Learn , so every child can access learning and opportunity; and Born to Dream , so every child can imagine a future beyond their circumstances. At the centre of the initiative is the Red Balloon , a symbol of childhood, possibility, freedom and hope. Schools, communities, athletes, organisations, businesses and individuals will be invited to carry the Red Balloon and turn its message into meaningful action. Safe to Move builds on more than a decade of FundLife’s work alongside children experiencing poverty, disasters, displacement and inequality. Since being established following Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, FundLife has worked through sport, play, education, mentoring and community-based programmes to create opportunities for children and young people to participate, learn and thrive. The initiative was introduced during AT ONE IMPACT WEEK 2026 in Singapore , where FundLife began building connections with partners who can help carry the message further. Among those supporting Safe to Move is Ann Pow , a Malaysian endurance athlete and FundLife Impact Athlete, recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the first Malaysian woman to complete an Ultraman. “Being free to move has allowed me to discover what I am capable of,” Pow said. “Every child should have that same basic freedom—to move safely, to explore, to grow and to dream.” In 2027, Ann will take on Run 13, 13 full marathons in 13 consecutive days across all 13 states of Malaysia, using endurance running to raise awareness and support for children and girls who continue to face barriers to education, safety and opportunity. Through Safe to Move, FundLife is inviting people and communities around the world to stand behind a belief that should be universal: every child deserves the freedom to move safely, play, learn and dream. Safe to Move. Free to Play. Ready to Learn. Born to Dream.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•FundLife International11 Sept

Ireland and WHO work together to improve access to assistive technology globally

Ireland is becoming a global leader in the field of innovation in harnessing digital technologies as a tool to address various barriers for access to care. In alignment with WHO, Ireland recognizes the importance of mobilizing assistive technology to help the 2.5 billion people in need globally, including older persons, people with disabilities, and those living with health conditions. This includes ensuring equitable access to assistive products such as glasses, hearing aids, walking aids, wheelchairs, prosthetics, and communication and memory devices. In March 2024, Anne Rabbitte, T.D., Ireland’s Minister of State with special responsibility for disabilities at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, agreed to a €12.5 million donor agreement between the Government of Ireland and WHO, aimed at accelerating affordability and availability of assistive technology for those in need. The cooperation has been building throughout the years. Back in 2022, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, TD, launched the Global report on assistive technology , along with the Director-General of WHO and the Executive Director of UNICEF. The Taoiseach highlighted the importance of international cooperation to ensure more equitable access to assistive technology, in order to achieve a society where everyone is included and enabled to live their best life. Minister Rabbitte stated that: “Ireland has identified the serious need to invest in public health systems alongside the WHO. The present risk of rising health needs coupled with a decreasing pool of health and social care professionals globally reveals an urgent need for all of us to act now. Ireland’s contribution aligns with the recommendations of the Global Report on Assistive Technology and supports a five-year initiative towards achieving national health system models that include assistive technology. The programme will explore and demonstrate how digital technology can facilitate people-centred services, assistive technology policy, improve the affordability and appropriateness of assistive products, enable effective provision systems, and boost the capacity of health personnel to identify, screen, refer and provide assistive technology for all those in need.” Health personnel in Tanzania participating in on-line training on assistive products , as part of an overall program aimed at provision of simple assistive products through community and primary health care facilities - making products such as walking aids and reading glasses more readily available for people within their local area. Digital technology was instrumental in facilitating efficient learning through the platform, and enabling support for health workers from their mentors through communication apps after the training. Credit: WHO/Kylie Shae With an ageing global population and a rise in noncommunicable diseases, an estimated 3.5 billion people will need assistive technology by 2050. Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General, Access to Medicines and Health Products, welcomes this important contribution from Ireland and their leadership in the digital initiative. She said: “The 2018 World Health Assembly resolution on assistive technology calls upon WHO to take the necessary steps to promote equitable access to assistive technology in our endeavour to build a more inclusive world. Our partnership with the Government of Ireland will support WHO in achieving our mission to ensure health for all, everywhere, with assistive technologies as an important enabler of well-being, inclusion, and participation.” Through Ireland’s contribution, and in collaboration with its broad network of partners, WHO will develop evidence-based guidance for Member States on strengthening access to assistive technology through understanding, prioritising and stimulating increased innovation and use of digital solutions. The work will also involve national, regional, and global projects that test digital solutions designed to address persistent access barriers such as: digital platforms that empower users with information about assistive technology and how to access it; digital tracking of products to manage supply; and online training and support for health workers. The results and lessons learned will help countries expand their knowledge, skills, and capacities in the provision of assistive technology as an integral component of Universal Health Care. ‘Leaving no one behind’ means ensuring that people with disabilities, the older population, those affected by chronic diseases and everyone who needs assistive technology are included in society and able to live healthy and dignified lives. * * * * Click below to find out what is assistive technology, who needs it, and how it improves lives Assistive technology is an umbrella term for external products used by individuals to help maintain or improve their bodily functions. Common examples are wheelchairs, glasses, prosthetic limbs, white canes, and hearing aids as well as digital solutions such as speech recognition or time management software. Assistive technology helps people in all aspects of their lives, including in education, employment, fitness, leisure and other everyday activities such as self-care, cooking and reading. Most people will need assistive technology at some point in their lives, especially as they age. While some may require assistive technology temporarily, such as after an accident or illness, others may require it for a longer period or throughout their lifespan. It is commonly needed by older people, children and adults with disabilities, people who have been injured or who have a health condition such as diabetes, stroke and dementia. Equitable access is key Improving access to assistive technology enables the inclusion and participation of users in their family, community and all areas of society, including the political, economic and social spheres. Assistive technology positively impacts a person, their family and friends, and has broader socioeconomic benefits. For example: early provision of hearing aids for young children supports their development of language and communication skills, limiting negative impacts on their education, future employment and community participation; provision of appropriate wheelchairs facilitates mobility, improving individuals’ access to education and employment while reducing healthcare costs due to a reduction in secondary complications such as pressure sores and contractures; therapeutic footwear for diabetes reduces the incidence of foot ulcers, preventing amputations and the associated impact on individuals and burden on health-care systems; and timely provision of assistive technology for older people can improve their independence and safety as well as enable them to live at home for as long as possible. Show less Show more

World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization17 May 2024