“The scale of children’s humanitarian needs is at a historically high level, with more children impacted every day,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
The funds will be used to provide essential services and supplies to children, including healthcare, nutrition, education, and mental health support. UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action for Children plan outlines its strategy to reach these children with crucial aid. UNICEF aims to provide primary healthcare to 56.9 million children and women, screen 34 million children for wasting, and offer community-based mental health and psychosocial support to 20.6 million children, adolescents, and caregivers.
In 2024, over 57.5 million children were born into countries affected by conflict or humanitarian crises. This figure is projected to increase by at least 400,000 in 2025. The top five countries requiring the most funding are Afghanistan, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the State of Palestine, and Lebanon.
Despite the significant funding needs, UNICEF received only 50 percent of its thematic humanitarian funding from donors last year. This funding was concentrated on just four emergencies: Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Syria, and Ukraine.
Russell emphasized the importance of flexible humanitarian funding to support UNICEF’s work in responding to crises worldwide. “Imagine what we can achieve for children working together through principled humanitarian action, creating a world where the rights of every child are protected and upheld, and where every child can develop and thrive – a world fit for every child.”