Results for UNICEF

In a joint statement at the weekend the United Nations humanitarian agencies called for the utmost respect of international humanitarian law by all parties in the ongoing Middle East conflict. “Gaza was a desperate humanitarian situation before the most recent hostilities. It is now catastrophic. The world must do more,” said the UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and WHO statement on humanitarian supplies crossing into Gaza, on 21 October. The statement which did not name the warring parties, described the humanitarian crisis and called for a humanitarian ceasefire and immediate access for distribution of aid supplies.

Humanitarian Cash Transfers of $1.5 million pa'anga funding is expected to be distributed to support 3,000 beneficiaries from affected areas in Tongatapu, 'Eua and Ha'apai, to recover from the impacts of the recent natural disasters.

UNICEF and the Government of Japan announced a new US$1,250,000 partnership to support the Government of Tonga to ensure that about 19,250 people, including 10,000 children, affected by the recent volcanic eruption and tsunami have sufficient access to safe drinking water, a clean environment, as well as good health.

The Government of Japan and the UNICEF today, 26 July announced a US$20.8m partnership to boost ongoing COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts in the Pacific region.

US$9 million was contributed by the Government of Japan to UNICEF to strengthen the vaccine cold chain and capacity to address the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic in 10 Pacific Islands, including Tonga.

Health services for over half a million people in four Pacific countries, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, will benefit from a project that is helping to improve overall immunization coverage rates and support greater efficiency of primary health care.

UNICEF is supporting the Government of Samoa to respond to a measles outbreak in the country. The Government of Samoa officially declared a state of emergency on 15 November 2019, four weeks into the continuing measles outbreak with more than 1000 suspected cases so far. The epidemic has claimed the lives of 14 children under-five years old and one adult. Lesser outbreaks are reported in Tonga and Fiji.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed 107 people have been confirmed or suspected to have contracted measles as at 28 October in Tonga with mild symptoms. An extra 2500 doses of MR vaccinations have arrived in Tonga on 29 October to top up stock levels. Measles is highly infectious.

UNICEF warned today of the dangers posed by online violence, cyberbullying and digital harassment for the 70.6per cent of young people aged 15 to 24 years old who are online globally, and called for concerted action to tackle and prevent violence against children and young people online. In the Pacific islands, a Tonga government survey in 2017 showed that 42 per cent of adolescents and youth experienced cruelty and mean behaviour online, with 59 per cent of those being females.