The head of the UN children’s fund urged Myanmar on Monday to implement the recommendations of a panel on the Rohingya crisis led by former UN head Kofi Annan, saying it had yet to create conditions right for the return of refugees from Bangladesh.

Speaking at a forum in the capital, Naypyitaw, UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore said children from the Rohingya Muslim minority, a persecuted and mostly stateless community from Buddhist-majority Myanmar were living “a precarious and an almost hopeless existence” in camps in neighbouring Bangladesh.

About 730,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state, in western Myanmar, since a military crackdown in 2017 after Rohingya insurgents attacked security posts, UN agencies estimate. Tens of thousands remain behind in Rakhine, where they are subjected to restrictions on movement and have limited access to healthcare and education.

Fore said Myanmar’s “commitment” to enacting the recommendations of Annan’s committee – which include ensuring freedom of movement and access to education – would help mend the lives of suffering children.

“We urge the government to seize this moment and translate this potential into reality for all children,” she said on the first visit by a UNICEF head in decades. “Taking these steps will also go a long way towards creating the right conditions for the return of refugees from Bangladesh.”

The Annan commission was created by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2016 to find long-term solutions to deep-seated ethnic and religious divisions in Rakhine.

But implementation of its recommendations has been beset by crises and setbacks.

A day after the panel issued its report in August 2017, Rohingya insurgents launched attacks on security forces, provoking a military crackdown the UN investigators described as "ethnic cleansing" with "genocidal intent". Myanmar denies the charge.

In mid-2018, a Myanmar minister told Western diplomats that eight of Annan's recommendations — including one that asks authorities to take steps to amend the 1982 citizenship law that had rendered the Rohingya stateless — were problematic and could not be immediately fulfilled.

The commission's recommendations included points urging the government to "immediately expand primary education to the communities in northern Rakhine State, and intensify efforts to ensure that teachers assigned to Muslim villages resume their work, including by providing adequate security when necessary".

It also called on authorities to "ensure that all children in the state have access to education in Myanmar language" and that the tertiary education access is expanded.

In August, UNICEF warned of what it described as a "lost generation" of Rohingya children, with half a million in refugee camps in Bangladesh facing dangers including disease and floods and those still in Myanmar lacking access to proper education.

“We urge that the necessary steps are taken to enable their safe, voluntary and dignified return back to their homes where their rights are respected and they can once again live peaceably with their neighbours,” said Fore.

The head of the UN children’s fund urged Myanmar on Monday to implement the recommendations of a panel on the Rohingya crisis led by former UN head Kofi Annan, saying it had yet to create conditions right for the return of refugees from Bangladesh.

The head of the UN children’s fund urged Myanmar on Monday to implement the recommendations of a panel on the Rohingya crisis led by former UN head Kofi Annan, saying it had yet to create conditions right for the return of refugees from Bangladesh. Speaking at a forum in the capital, Naypyitaw, UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore said children from the Rohingya Muslim minority, a persecuted and mostly stateless community from Buddhist-majority Myanmar were living “a precarious and an almost hopeless existence” in camps in neighbouring Bangladesh. About 730,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state, in western Myanmar, since a military crackdown in 2017 after Rohingya insurgents attacked security posts, UN agencies estimate. Tens of thousands remain behind in Rakhine, where they are subjected to restrictions on movement and have limited access to healthcare and education. Fore said Myanmar’s “commitment” to enacting the recommendations of Annan’s committee – which include ensuring freedom of movement and access to education – would help mend the lives of suffering children. “We urge the government to seize this moment and translate this potential into reality for all children,” she said on the first visit by a UNICEF head in decades. “Taking these steps will also go a long way towards creating the right conditions for the return of refugees from Bangladesh.” The Annan commission was created by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2016 to find long-term solutions to deep-seated ethnic and religious divisions in Rakhine. But implementation of its recommendations has been beset by crises and setbacks. A day after the panel issued its report in August 2017, Rohingya insurgents launched attacks on security forces, provoking a military crackdown the UN investigators described as "ethnic cleansing" with "genocidal intent". Myanmar denies the charge. In mid-2018, a Myanmar minister told Western diplomats that eight of Annan's recommendations — including one that asks authorities to take steps to amend the 1982 citizenship law that had rendered the Rohingya stateless — were problematic and could not be immediately fulfilled. The commission's recommendations included points urging the government to "immediately expand primary education to the communities in northern Rakhine State, and intensify efforts to ensure that teachers assigned to Muslim villages resume their work, including by providing adequate security when necessary". It also called on authorities to "ensure that all children in the state have access to education in Myanmar language" and that the tertiary education access is expanded. In August, UNICEF warned of what it described as a "lost generation" of Rohingya children, with half a million in refugee camps in Bangladesh facing dangers including disease and floods and those still in Myanmar lacking access to proper education. “We urge that the necessary steps are taken to enable their safe, voluntary and dignified return back to their homes where their rights are respected and they can once again live peaceably with their neighbours,” said Fore.

UNICEF chief urges Myanmar to enact Kofi Annan's recommendations on Rohingya crisis

Two insurgents believed to be tied to a motorcycle drive-by shooting at a school in Thailand's south were shot dead Saturday, police said, as UNICEF warned of trauma for children near the scene of the lunchtime violence.

Since 2004 clashes between Malay-Muslim rebels and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/thailand-resumes-flights-ferry-services-as-tropical-storm-slows-188374">the Buddhist-majority Thai state</a> that annexed the area over 100 years ago have killed nearly 7,000 people, mostly civilians of both faiths.

The conflict rarely makes global headlines but is a reality for residents of border provinces where security forces maintain a large footprint, aided by poorly paid defence "volunteers" drawn from local communities.

The four men killed in Thursday's shooting were all Muslims and were guarding a school in Pattani province when the attackers struck just before lunchtime with students mere metres away.

Pattani provincial police commander Piyawat Chalermsri told AFP Saturday that two people with alleged ties to the school violence were killed in a shootout Saturday morning.

Though he did not give information about their identities or affiliation, he said he was "confident that they are the same group who carried out the attack Thursday" by driving by on motorbikes.

Authorities have also detained one suspect and are questioning five others, while a military source said an eight-year-old had been grazed by a bullet but not seriously injured.

UNICEF Thailand representative Thomas Davin said Friday that one child at the Bukoh school attack was reportedly injured by debris and some who may have witnessed the attack could face long term psychological trauma.

"This attack has undoubtedly put the school children, the teachers, and school personnel in harm’s way. It has put children at grave risk of injury or death," he said.

"Such violence could also affect parents’ willingness to send their children to school — potentially to the detriment of many children’s learning and future development."

The 15-year insurgency has seen scores of teachers killed, slain for their perceived collaboration with the Thai state, which led to the use of armed guards at schools.

The death toll in the conflict dropped to a record low last year as Thailand's junta tightened its security operations.

But recent weeks have seen an uptick in violence, as rebels show they remain able to carry out more pinpointed operations.

In a rare statement dated January 4 the main rebel group — the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) — swore to "keep fighting" while warning people not to help or support the state.

But Thai authorities, as well as the Malaysian facilitator of the talks, have recently expressed confidence they will make progress soon.

Former 4th Army commander Udomchai Thammasarorat said at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Thailand on Friday that he "wants to find a solution to exit from the violence" and he has urged the southern army commander to try and ensure public safety.

The four men killed in Thursday's shooting were all Muslims and were guarding a school in Pattani province when the attackers struck just before lunchtime with students mere metres away.

Two insurgents believed to be tied to a motorcycle drive-by shooting at a school in Thailand's south were shot dead Saturday, police said, as UNICEF warned of trauma for children near the scene of the lunchtime violence. Since 2004 clashes between Malay-Muslim rebels and the Buddhist-majority Thai state that annexed the area over 100 years ago have killed nearly 7,000 people, mostly civilians of both faiths. The conflict rarely makes global headlines but is a reality for residents of border provinces where security forces maintain a large footprint, aided by poorly paid defence "volunteers" drawn from local communities. The four men killed in Thursday's shooting were all Muslims and were guarding a school in Pattani province when the attackers struck just before lunchtime with students mere metres away. Pattani provincial police commander Piyawat Chalermsri told AFP Saturday that two people with alleged ties to the school violence were killed in a shootout Saturday morning. Though he did not give information about their identities or affiliation, he said he was "confident that they are the same group who carried out the attack Thursday" by driving by on motorbikes. Authorities have also detained one suspect and are questioning five others, while a military source said an eight-year-old had been grazed by a bullet but not seriously injured. UNICEF Thailand representative Thomas Davin said Friday that one child at the Bukoh school attack was reportedly injured by debris and some who may have witnessed the attack could face long term psychological trauma. "This attack has undoubtedly put the school children, the teachers, and school personnel in harm’s way. It has put children at grave risk of injury or death," he said. "Such violence could also affect parents’ willingness to send their children to school — potentially to the detriment of many children’s learning and future development." The 15-year insurgency has seen scores of teachers killed, slain for their perceived collaboration with the Thai state, which led to the use of armed guards at schools. The death toll in the conflict dropped to a record low last year as Thailand's junta tightened its security operations. But recent weeks have seen an uptick in violence, as rebels show they remain able to carry out more pinpointed operations. In a rare statement dated January 4 the main rebel group — the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) — swore to "keep fighting" while warning people not to help or support the state. But Thai authorities, as well as the Malaysian facilitator of the talks, have recently expressed confidence they will make progress soon. Former 4th Army commander Udomchai Thammasarorat said at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Thailand on Friday that he "wants to find a solution to exit from the violence" and he has urged the southern army commander to try and ensure public safety.

Thailand security forces kill two linked to deadly shooting at school

As the world rings in the New Year, UNICEF has released a report on the number of newborns on the New Year's day.&nbsp;

As per the report released on December 31, 2018, over three lakh babies will be born on the New Year's day today. What is shocking is the fact that India tops the list with the highest number of births on January 1 with around 69,944 newborns.&nbsp;

The list has China at the second spot, with 44,940 babies, followed by Nigeria, Pakistan, Indonesia and the United States coming at the fifth spot.&nbsp;

An estimated 395, 072 babies will be born around the world on New Year’s Day, UNICEF said in its release, adding that a quarter of the total number will be born in South Asia alone.&nbsp;

"As the clock strikes midnight, Sydney will greet an estimated 168 babies, followed by 310 in Tokyo, 605 in Beijing, 166 in Madrid and finally, 317 in New York," UNICEF's release read.&nbsp;

"Fiji in the Pacific will most likely deliver 2019’s first baby; the United States, its last. Globally, over half of these births are estimated to take place in eight countries," it added.&nbsp;

The report throws a spotlight on the burgeoning state of population in India which stands second in the world, right after China, with over 1.2 billion people.&nbsp;

As the world rings in the New Year, UNICEF has released a report on the number of newborns on the New Year's day. As per the report released on December 31, 2018, over three lakh babies will be born on the New Year's day today.

As the world rings in the New Year, UNICEF has released a report on the number of newborns on the New Year's day. As per the report released on December 31, 2018, over three lakh babies will be born on the New Year's day today. What is shocking is the fact that India tops the list with the highest number of births on January 1 with around 69,944 newborns. The list has China at the second spot, with 44,940 babies, followed by Nigeria, Pakistan, Indonesia and the United States coming at the fifth spot. An estimated 395, 072 babies will be born around the world on New Year’s Day, UNICEF said in its release, adding that a quarter of the total number will be born in South Asia alone. "As the clock strikes midnight, Sydney will greet an estimated 168 babies, followed by 310 in Tokyo, 605 in Beijing, 166 in Madrid and finally, 317 in New York," UNICEF's release read. "Fiji in the Pacific will most likely deliver 2019’s first baby; the United States, its last. Globally, over half of these births are estimated to take place in eight countries," it added. The report throws a spotlight on the burgeoning state of population in India which stands second in the world, right after China, with over 1.2 billion people.

Tiny revellers: Over 3 lakh babies to be born on New Year’s day across globe, around 70,000 in India alone 

The Nigerian military on Friday lifted a suspension of United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund activities in the northeast of the country, hours after it was imposed amid accusations that UNICEF staff spied for Islamist militants in the restive region.

Nigeria's northeast has been torn apart by a decade-long insurgency by Boko Haram and its splinter group Islamic State West Africa, in which more than 30,000 people have been killed and many more driven from their homes. With millions displaced, the northeast is largely dependent on international aid.

Earlier on Friday, the Nigerian military said UNICEF had been training people to sabotage troops' counter-insurgency efforts by uncovering alleged human rights abuses by the military.

In its statement, the Nigerian military said UNICEF staff "train and deploy spies who support the insurgents and their sympathisers".

These were "unwholesome practices that could further jeopardise the fight against terrorism and insurgency", it said, adding that UNICEF's operations were being suspended in the northeast until further notice.

But in a second statement hours later, the military said it held an emergency meeting with UNICEF representatives late on Friday.

"After extensive deliberations on the need to seek modalities to work harmoniously with the security agencies in the theatre of operation, the Theatre Command has henceforth lifted the three months suspension earlier imposed on UNICEF," the military said in its second statement.

In its second statement, the military said during the meeting it urged "UNICEF representatives to ensure they share information with relevant authorities whenever induction or training of new staff is being conducted in the theatre".

Earlier, after the allegation and suspension, a UNICEF spokeswoman said the organisation was "verifying the information".&nbsp;

In April, Nigeria's military declared three UNICEF employees "persona non grata", in connection with alleged leaks of information about soldiers sexually abusing children in the northeast, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The declaration was rescinded days later after pressure from diplomats, the sources said.

Nigeria's military is highly sensitive to allegations of human rights abuses.

The Nigerian military on Friday lifted a suspension of United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund activities in the northeast of the country, hours after it was imposed amid accusations that UNICEF staff spied for Islamist militants in the restive region.

The Nigerian military on Friday lifted a suspension of United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund activities in the northeast of the country, hours after it was imposed amid accusations that UNICEF staff spied for Islamist militants in the restive region. Nigeria's northeast has been torn apart by a decade-long insurgency by Boko Haram and its splinter group Islamic State West Africa, in which more than 30,000 people have been killed and many more driven from their homes. With millions displaced, the northeast is largely dependent on international aid. Earlier on Friday, the Nigerian military said UNICEF had been training people to sabotage troops' counter-insurgency efforts by uncovering alleged human rights abuses by the military. In its statement, the Nigerian military said UNICEF staff "train and deploy spies who support the insurgents and their sympathisers". These were "unwholesome practices that could further jeopardise the fight against terrorism and insurgency", it said, adding that UNICEF's operations were being suspended in the northeast until further notice. But in a second statement hours later, the military said it held an emergency meeting with UNICEF representatives late on Friday. "After extensive deliberations on the need to seek modalities to work harmoniously with the security agencies in the theatre of operation, the Theatre Command has henceforth lifted the three months suspension earlier imposed on UNICEF," the military said in its second statement. In its second statement, the military said during the meeting it urged "UNICEF representatives to ensure they share information with relevant authorities whenever induction or training of new staff is being conducted in the theatre". Earlier, after the allegation and suspension, a UNICEF spokeswoman said the organisation was "verifying the information". In April, Nigeria's military declared three UNICEF employees "persona non grata", in connection with alleged leaks of information about soldiers sexually abusing children in the northeast, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The declaration was rescinded days later after pressure from diplomats, the sources said. Nigeria's military is highly sensitive to allegations of human rights abuses.

Nigeria lifts UNICEF suspension hours after accusing staff of spying for Islamists

Yemeni pro-government forces advanced closer to rebel-held Hodeida overnight, a military source said on Wednesday, raising fears over humanitarian aid deliveries through the lifeline port city.

Concern was also growing for civilians in Hodeida, as the fighting drew near and after reports that snipers had positioned themselves on a hospital rooftop.

Plumes of smoke were seen billowing from the horizon on Tuesday as heavily armed pro-government forces moved towards the Red Sea port on foot and on the back of pickup trucks.

A pro-government military source said on Wednesday that loyalists backed by a Saudi-led coalition made "limited advances" overnight towards Hodeida and its port, through which more than 70 per cent of the impoverished country's imports pass.

The coalition, an alliance led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, had sent fighter jets and Apache attack helicopters to cover Yemeni troops fighting rebels on the ground, the source told AFP.

A barrage of 100 air strikes were fired at the weekend around Hodeida, the Save the Children aid group said, citing its staff in the city of 600,000 residents.

In the past 24 hours fighting claimed the lives of 27 rebels and 12 pro-government fighters on the outskirts of Hodeida city, a medical source told AFP on Wednesday.

Nearly 200 combatants have been killed in the past week, according to military sources.

Hospitals in crossfire

The United Nations children's fund, UNICEF, on Wednesday voiced concern an escalation in the violence would jeopardise humanitarian efforts crucial for the survival of millions across the war-torn country.

"The concern really is that if Hodeida port doesn't function anymore, we, as UNICEF, are then not able to bring in humanitarian supplies through that port," Juliette Touma, spokeswoman for the UN agency, told AFP.

Touma said that in past years UNICEF had been able to transport to Hodeida humanitarian supplies using "little boats".

This week marks one year since the government coalition, which controls Yemen's airspace and maritime borders, imposed a blockade on rebel-held Hodeida in retaliation for Huthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia.

Rights groups now fear for civilians, as fighting nears two hospitals in the area.

A medical source told AFP on Wednesday that the Huthis had forced medical staff out of the May 22 Hospital -- one of Hodeida's main medical facilities -- and stationed snipers on top of the building.

UNICEF warned on Tuesday the fighting was dangerously close to Al-Thawra hospital in southern Hodeida, and was endangering the lives of 59 children.

The clashes come as the United Nations pushes to restart negotiations between the warring parties, after planned talks in Geneva in September failed.

Civilian infrastructure

The International Committee of the Red Cross on Wednesday appealed for warring parties to "spare civilians and civilian infrastructure" including ambulances, hospitals, electricity and water plants.

"Families are staying in schools -- each classroom housing two or three families -- which makes it an average of 20 people in the classroom with nothing whatsoever," said Mirella Hodeib, ICRC spokesman in Sanaa.

"ICRC urges all parties to respect international humanitarian law... and to allow for the safe passage of civilians who want to flee the active conflict zones."

Hodeida, one of the last Huthi strongholds on Yemen's western coast, was seized by the rebels along with the capital Sanaa in 2014.

Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the government's fight against the Huthis months later, driving the rebels from a string of ports but failing to retake the capital and Hodeida.

Hodeida is Yemen's most valuable port, crucial for aid delivery and food imports to a country where famine looms over 14 million people and a child dies every 10 minutes from easily preventable diseases, according to the UN.

Saudi Arabia and its allies accuse Iran of using Hodeida port to smuggle missiles to the Huthis, a charge Tehran denies.

The World Health Organization estimates nearly 10,000 people have been killed in Yemen's war since 2015, although rights groups say the toll could be five times higher.

Yemeni pro-government forces advanced closer to rebel-held Hodeida overnight, a military source said on Wednesday, raising fears over humanitarian aid deliveries through the lifeline port city.

Yemeni pro-government forces advanced closer to rebel-held Hodeida overnight, a military source said on Wednesday, raising fears over humanitarian aid deliveries through the lifeline port city. Concern was also growing for civilians in Hodeida, as the fighting drew near and after reports that snipers had positioned themselves on a hospital rooftop. Plumes of smoke were seen billowing from the horizon on Tuesday as heavily armed pro-government forces moved towards the Red Sea port on foot and on the back of pickup trucks. A pro-government military source said on Wednesday that loyalists backed by a Saudi-led coalition made "limited advances" overnight towards Hodeida and its port, through which more than 70 per cent of the impoverished country's imports pass. The coalition, an alliance led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, had sent fighter jets and Apache attack helicopters to cover Yemeni troops fighting rebels on the ground, the source told AFP. A barrage of 100 air strikes were fired at the weekend around Hodeida, the Save the Children aid group said, citing its staff in the city of 600,000 residents. In the past 24 hours fighting claimed the lives of 27 rebels and 12 pro-government fighters on the outskirts of Hodeida city, a medical source told AFP on Wednesday. Nearly 200 combatants have been killed in the past week, according to military sources. Hospitals in crossfire The United Nations children's fund, UNICEF, on Wednesday voiced concern an escalation in the violence would jeopardise humanitarian efforts crucial for the survival of millions across the war-torn country. "The concern really is that if Hodeida port doesn't function anymore, we, as UNICEF, are then not able to bring in humanitarian supplies through that port," Juliette Touma, spokeswoman for the UN agency, told AFP. Touma said that in past years UNICEF had been able to transport to Hodeida humanitarian supplies using "little boats". This week marks one year since the government coalition, which controls Yemen's airspace and maritime borders, imposed a blockade on rebel-held Hodeida in retaliation for Huthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. Rights groups now fear for civilians, as fighting nears two hospitals in the area. A medical source told AFP on Wednesday that the Huthis had forced medical staff out of the May 22 Hospital -- one of Hodeida's main medical facilities -- and stationed snipers on top of the building. UNICEF warned on Tuesday the fighting was dangerously close to Al-Thawra hospital in southern Hodeida, and was endangering the lives of 59 children. The clashes come as the United Nations pushes to restart negotiations between the warring parties, after planned talks in Geneva in September failed. Civilian infrastructure The International Committee of the Red Cross on Wednesday appealed for warring parties to "spare civilians and civilian infrastructure" including ambulances, hospitals, electricity and water plants. "Families are staying in schools -- each classroom housing two or three families -- which makes it an average of 20 people in the classroom with nothing whatsoever," said Mirella Hodeib, ICRC spokesman in Sanaa. "ICRC urges all parties to respect international humanitarian law... and to allow for the safe passage of civilians who want to flee the active conflict zones." Hodeida, one of the last Huthi strongholds on Yemen's western coast, was seized by the rebels along with the capital Sanaa in 2014. Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the government's fight against the Huthis months later, driving the rebels from a string of ports but failing to retake the capital and Hodeida. Hodeida is Yemen's most valuable port, crucial for aid delivery and food imports to a country where famine looms over 14 million people and a child dies every 10 minutes from easily preventable diseases, according to the UN. Saudi Arabia and its allies accuse Iran of using Hodeida port to smuggle missiles to the Huthis, a charge Tehran denies. The World Health Organization estimates nearly 10,000 people have been killed in Yemen's war since 2015, although rights groups say the toll could be five times higher.

Fears for civilians as Yemen forces edge closer to lifeline port

Government troops and rebels clashed again Tuesday near a Yemeni port city crucial for humanitarian aid, where hundreds of thousands of civilians could be trapped as war closes in.

Five days of battles between Iran-linked Huthi rebels and the army, allied with a regional military coalition led by Saudi Arabia, have left more than 150 combatants dead in the Red Sea province of Hodeida.

A spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition on Monday said the government alliance had no plans to launch a full offensive to retake Hodeida.

But multiple military officials on the ground reported their troops had encircled the rebel-held city.

The rebels have also confirmed fierce fighting in the area via their Al-Masirah television station.

The fighting comes as the United Nations pushes to restart negotiations between warring parties, after talks collapsed in Geneva in September.

Hodeida is one of the last Huthi strongholds on Yemen's western coastline. The rebels seized the port, along with the capital, in 2014.

The rival Saudi-led camp, a powerful military alliance that includes the United Arab Emirates, has since retaken most of the country's ports.

'Never-ending nightmare'

The United Nations' children's fund (UNICEF) -- which has called Yemen a "living hell" -- this week warned an assault on Hodeida would jeopardise the lives of people in the city and across the country.

The port of Hodeida is crucial for aid delivery and food imports to Yemen, where famine looms over 14 million people and a child dies every 10 minutes, according to the UN.

Medics at hospitals in the Hodeida neighbourhood of Bajil reported they had received the bodies of 49 Huthi rebels on Tuesday morning.

Hospitals in government-held Mokha, south of Hodeida, said 15 soldiers had been killed.

Rights groups warn the worst could be yet to come in Hodeida.

"The past days have... seen fierce fighting and air strikes pick up in the vicinity of Hodeida city, threatening to further deteriorate civilians' access to safety and aid," the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) warned on Monday night.

Save the Children reported almost 100 air strikes counted by its staff at the weekend -- five times as many as in the whole first week of October.

The NRC warned the fighting around Hodeida city threatened "to further deteriorate civilians' access to safety and aid".

Failing economy

The poorest country in the Arab world, Yemen is now home to what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Nearly 14 million people are at risk of famine as the war nears its fourth year.

The World Health Organization says 10,000 people have been killed since the Saudi-led coalition intervened on the side of the government in 2015.

Yemen's government on Tuesday approved new budget and tax collection measures aimed at bolstering the central bank as looming famine threatens millions.

The cabinet backed the formation of a committee tasked with setting the government budget for 2019, according to state news agency Saba.

It also passed a resolution pushing for the collection of owed taxes and customs "on all taxable imports at all land, sea and air ports in liberated areas", or areas under government control.

The Yemeni riyal has plunged more than 36 percent in 2018, despite a $2-billion deposit in the central bank by Saudi Arabia aimed at saving the currency.

The riyal's slide has triggered a sharp rise in the prices of commodities, especially food and fuel, leaving millions unable to afford basic staples.

Government troops and rebels clashed again Tuesday near a Yemeni port city crucial for humanitarian aid, where hundreds of thousands of civilians could be trapped as war closes in.

Government troops and rebels clashed again Tuesday near a Yemeni port city crucial for humanitarian aid, where hundreds of thousands of civilians could be trapped as war closes in. Five days of battles between Iran-linked Huthi rebels and the army, allied with a regional military coalition led by Saudi Arabia, have left more than 150 combatants dead in the Red Sea province of Hodeida. A spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition on Monday said the government alliance had no plans to launch a full offensive to retake Hodeida. But multiple military officials on the ground reported their troops had encircled the rebel-held city. The rebels have also confirmed fierce fighting in the area via their Al-Masirah television station. The fighting comes as the United Nations pushes to restart negotiations between warring parties, after talks collapsed in Geneva in September. Hodeida is one of the last Huthi strongholds on Yemen's western coastline. The rebels seized the port, along with the capital, in 2014. The rival Saudi-led camp, a powerful military alliance that includes the United Arab Emirates, has since retaken most of the country's ports. 'Never-ending nightmare' The United Nations' children's fund (UNICEF) -- which has called Yemen a "living hell" -- this week warned an assault on Hodeida would jeopardise the lives of people in the city and across the country. The port of Hodeida is crucial for aid delivery and food imports to Yemen, where famine looms over 14 million people and a child dies every 10 minutes, according to the UN. Medics at hospitals in the Hodeida neighbourhood of Bajil reported they had received the bodies of 49 Huthi rebels on Tuesday morning. Hospitals in government-held Mokha, south of Hodeida, said 15 soldiers had been killed. Rights groups warn the worst could be yet to come in Hodeida. "The past days have... seen fierce fighting and air strikes pick up in the vicinity of Hodeida city, threatening to further deteriorate civilians' access to safety and aid," the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) warned on Monday night. Save the Children reported almost 100 air strikes counted by its staff at the weekend -- five times as many as in the whole first week of October. The NRC warned the fighting around Hodeida city threatened "to further deteriorate civilians' access to safety and aid". Failing economy The poorest country in the Arab world, Yemen is now home to what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Nearly 14 million people are at risk of famine as the war nears its fourth year. The World Health Organization says 10,000 people have been killed since the Saudi-led coalition intervened on the side of the government in 2015. Yemen's government on Tuesday approved new budget and tax collection measures aimed at bolstering the central bank as looming famine threatens millions. The cabinet backed the formation of a committee tasked with setting the government budget for 2019, according to state news agency Saba. It also passed a resolution pushing for the collection of owed taxes and customs "on all taxable imports at all land, sea and air ports in liberated areas", or areas under government control. The Yemeni riyal has plunged more than 36 percent in 2018, despite a $2-billion deposit in the central bank by Saudi Arabia aimed at saving the currency. The riyal's slide has triggered a sharp rise in the prices of commodities, especially food and fuel, leaving millions unable to afford basic staples.

Fears for civilians rise as clashes rattle Yemen port city

An aid convoy on Saturday reached a camp for displaced Syrians near the Jordanian border, the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent said, in the first such delivery since January.

"The UN and SARC are delivering humanitarian assistance to 50,000 people in need at Rukban camp in southeast Syria," the UN said in a statement, adding the delivery was expected to take three to four days.

The convoy included much-needed food, as well as health assistance, the UN and SARC said.

"We are delivering food, sanitation and hygiene supplies, nutrition and health assistance in addition to other core relief items," the UN's humanitarian coordinator in Syria Ali Al-Zaatari said in a statement.

"We are also conducting an emergency vaccination campaign to protect some 10,000 children against measles, polio and other deadly diseases."&nbsp; 
More than 70 trucks would ferry in more than 10,000 food parcels and bags of flour, as well as clothes for 18,000 children, the Red Crescent said.

The aid would also include newborn baby kits for 1,200 children, medicines, medical supplies and nutritional supplements for children and women, it said. It was the first aid convoy to arrive in Rukban from&nbsp;Damascus, after the last delivery from Jordan in January.

"This is SARC's first convoy to Rukban camp after guarantees from all parties have been obtained," SARC president Khaled Hboubati also said in a statement.

Conditions, since the last aid arrived, have deteriorated, with most inhabitants unable to afford what little food is smuggled across the Jordanian border, and no health facilities in the camp.

Abu Karim, a camp resident, welcomed the fresh assistance but insisted it should be regular to have a lasting effect.

"The aid arriving has provided some relief to the displaced, but if it then stops and does not continue on a regular basis, the camp will return to its bad state," he said.

He pointed to the lack of health care for the displaced as winter draws closer.

"The aid entering will solve the food crisis in the camp, but there's still the health issue," he told AFP via a messaging app.

"There's great suffering as we have no doctors, hospitals or even field hospitals or a place for first aid."&nbsp;

To access a basic clinic, residents have to cross into Jordan -- through a border that has been largely closed since 2016.

Last month, a girl of four months died of blood poisoning and dehydration, and a five-day-old boy lost his life to blood poisoning and severe malnutrition, according to the UN's children agency UNICEF.

A suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group in June 2016 killed seven Jordanian soldiers in no-mans-land close to the nearby&nbsp; 
Rukban crossing.

Soon afterwards, the army declared Jordan's desert regions that stretch northeast to Syria and east to Iraq "closed military zones".

The kingdom, part of the US-led coalition fighting IS, has allowed several humanitarian aid deliveries to the area following UN requests, but the&nbsp; 
borders remain largely closed.

The camp, home to displaced people from across Syria, also lies close to the Al-Tanf base used by the US-led coalition fighting IS.

Syria's civil war has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.&nbsp;

An aid convoy on Saturday reached a camp for displaced Syrians near the Jordanian border, the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent said, in the first such delivery since January.

An aid convoy on Saturday reached a camp for displaced Syrians near the Jordanian border, the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent said, in the first such delivery since January. "The UN and SARC are delivering humanitarian assistance to 50,000 people in need at Rukban camp in southeast Syria," the UN said in a statement, adding the delivery was expected to take three to four days. The convoy included much-needed food, as well as health assistance, the UN and SARC said. "We are delivering food, sanitation and hygiene supplies, nutrition and health assistance in addition to other core relief items," the UN's humanitarian coordinator in Syria Ali Al-Zaatari said in a statement. "We are also conducting an emergency vaccination campaign to protect some 10,000 children against measles, polio and other deadly diseases." More than 70 trucks would ferry in more than 10,000 food parcels and bags of flour, as well as clothes for 18,000 children, the Red Crescent said. The aid would also include newborn baby kits for 1,200 children, medicines, medical supplies and nutritional supplements for children and women, it said. It was the first aid convoy to arrive in Rukban from Damascus, after the last delivery from Jordan in January. "This is SARC's first convoy to Rukban camp after guarantees from all parties have been obtained," SARC president Khaled Hboubati also said in a statement. Conditions, since the last aid arrived, have deteriorated, with most inhabitants unable to afford what little food is smuggled across the Jordanian border, and no health facilities in the camp. Abu Karim, a camp resident, welcomed the fresh assistance but insisted it should be regular to have a lasting effect. "The aid arriving has provided some relief to the displaced, but if it then stops and does not continue on a regular basis, the camp will return to its bad state," he said. He pointed to the lack of health care for the displaced as winter draws closer. "The aid entering will solve the food crisis in the camp, but there's still the health issue," he told AFP via a messaging app. "There's great suffering as we have no doctors, hospitals or even field hospitals or a place for first aid." To access a basic clinic, residents have to cross into Jordan -- through a border that has been largely closed since 2016. Last month, a girl of four months died of blood poisoning and dehydration, and a five-day-old boy lost his life to blood poisoning and severe malnutrition, according to the UN's children agency UNICEF. A suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group in June 2016 killed seven Jordanian soldiers in no-mans-land close to the nearby Rukban crossing. Soon afterwards, the army declared Jordan's desert regions that stretch northeast to Syria and east to Iraq "closed military zones". The kingdom, part of the US-led coalition fighting IS, has allowed several humanitarian aid deliveries to the area following UN requests, but the borders remain largely closed. The camp, home to displaced people from across Syria, also lies close to the Al-Tanf base used by the US-led coalition fighting IS. Syria's civil war has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.

First aid since January reaches displaced Syrians near Jordan border: UN

Over seven million children face a serious threat of famine in Yemen and ending the country's war will not save all of them, the UN children's agency said.

"Today, 1.8 million children under the age of five are facing acute malnutrition, and 400,000 are affected by severe acute malnutrition," said Geert Cappelaere, regional director of UNICEF.

"More than half" of the 14 million people at serious risk of famine in the impoverished country are children, Cappelaere told AFP late on Wednesday.

"Ending the war is not enough," he said, referring to a more than three year conflict that pits the government supported by a Saudi-led military coalition against Huthi rebels.

"What we need is to stop the war and (to create) a government mechanism that puts at the centre the people and children.

"The war is exacerbating the situation that was already bad before because of years of underdevelopment" in the Arab world's poorest nation, Cappelaere said.

He welcomed a call by the UN on Wednesday to relaunch peace talks within a month.

He said efforts to come up with a solution in the next 30 days were "critical" to improving aid distribution and saving lives.

Cappelaere said that over 6,000 children have either been killed or sustained serious injuries since 2015.

"These are the numbers we have been able to verify, but we can safely assume that the number is higher, much higher," he said.

Saudi Arabia and its allies entered the war to bolster Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Iran-backed rebels took over the capital Sanaa.

Since 2015, more than 10,000 people have been killed and some 22 million -- three quarters of the population -- are in need of food aid, according to the UN.

Over seven million children face a serious threat of famine in Yemen and ending the country's war will not save all of them, the UN children's agency said. "Today, 1.

Over seven million children face a serious threat of famine in Yemen and ending the country's war will not save all of them, the UN children's agency said. "Today, 1.8 million children under the age of five are facing acute malnutrition, and 400,000 are affected by severe acute malnutrition," said Geert Cappelaere, regional director of UNICEF. "More than half" of the 14 million people at serious risk of famine in the impoverished country are children, Cappelaere told AFP late on Wednesday. "Ending the war is not enough," he said, referring to a more than three year conflict that pits the government supported by a Saudi-led military coalition against Huthi rebels. "What we need is to stop the war and (to create) a government mechanism that puts at the centre the people and children. "The war is exacerbating the situation that was already bad before because of years of underdevelopment" in the Arab world's poorest nation, Cappelaere said. He welcomed a call by the UN on Wednesday to relaunch peace talks within a month. He said efforts to come up with a solution in the next 30 days were "critical" to improving aid distribution and saving lives. Cappelaere said that over 6,000 children have either been killed or sustained serious injuries since 2015. "These are the numbers we have been able to verify, but we can safely assume that the number is higher, much higher," he said. Saudi Arabia and its allies entered the war to bolster Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Iran-backed rebels took over the capital Sanaa. Since 2015, more than 10,000 people have been killed and some 22 million -- three quarters of the population -- are in need of food aid, according to the UN.

Over 7 million Yemeni children face extreme scarcity of food : UN

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, Yuri Afanasiev, on Friday presented the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The report assessed the damage and loss incurred due to the devastating floods in the state in August.

This is the first time the UN has prepared such report in India.&nbsp;

According to the report, the state would need about Rs 31,000 crore for recovery and reconstruction. The highest amount would be needed for the reconstruction of roads and transportation (Rs 10,046 crore), followed by housing (Rs 5443 crore), agriculture, fisheries and livestock (Rs 4498 crore), employment and livelihood (Rs 3896 crore), other infrastructure (Rs 2446 crore), irrigation (Rs 1483 crore) and water and sanitation (Rs 1331 crore).

The report highlights the international examples and models for building back better Kerala in 16 sectors.&nbsp;

It suggests that Kerala could become the first green state in the country by building on the four pillars of integrated water resources management, eco-sensitive and risk-informed approaches to land use and planning, inclusive and people-centred approaches, and by adopting knowledge, innovation and technology.

Chief Minister Vijayan thanked the UN for providing support to the state for flood response and developing PDNA.&nbsp;

He requested for the UN technical support in developing sectoral recovery plans, bringing international models and new technologies to Kerala, and in strengthening the recovery committees with experts.&nbsp;

The chief minister also sought UN support for mobilising resources for the state within and outside the country.

Echoing the views of the Chief Minister, Dr Thomas Issac, Finance Minister, thanked the UN for its assistance in mobilising grants for reconstruction.&nbsp;

"We thank the UN for mobilizing grants. This would reduce the amount of borrowing," Issac said.

The PDNA is the global methodology developed by the UN, the World Bank and the European Union to assess damage and loss in the wake of disaster and to recommend the recovery needs and strategies.&nbsp;

In all, 76 experts from 10 UN agencies and European Union across 13 sectors collaborated to develop the report in 20 days.&nbsp;

The UN agencies included, UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO, UN Women, UNFPA, UNEP, WHO, WFP, ILO and FAO and adopted reports of 3 sectors from World Bank and ADB.&nbsp;

Besides, two experts on integrated water resources management from Netherlands also provided support. The report was prepared after visiting 120 villages in 10 districts and interacting with experts, affected people, elected representatives, officials and representatives of civil society organisations.

"On behalf of the United Nations in India, I am very pleased that we are able to support the exemplary recovery efforts of the Government of Kerala. The resilience and initiative of the people of Kerala have been remarkable throughout and in the aftermath of this disaster, with valuable lessons in innovation for the world,'' said Afanasiev.

The UN-supported Post Disaster Needs Assessment builds on this and the best international models for building back better. I strongly believe that Kerala is poised to emerge stronger in a way that sets the standard for future disaster response needs in the region and beyond, and become India`s first green state. The UN team continues to support Kerala through our technical expertise and global linkages across a variety of sectors," he continued.

The PDNA was led by the Additional Chief Secretary, PH Kurian, Department of Revenue and Disaster Management and nodal officer, S Venkatespathy, the Director of Fisheries.&nbsp;

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, Yuri Afanasiev, on Friday presented the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, Yuri Afanasiev, on Friday presented the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The report assessed the damage and loss incurred due to the devastating floods in the state in August. This is the first time the UN has prepared such report in India. According to the report, the state would need about Rs 31,000 crore for recovery and reconstruction. The highest amount would be needed for the reconstruction of roads and transportation (Rs 10,046 crore), followed by housing (Rs 5443 crore), agriculture, fisheries and livestock (Rs 4498 crore), employment and livelihood (Rs 3896 crore), other infrastructure (Rs 2446 crore), irrigation (Rs 1483 crore) and water and sanitation (Rs 1331 crore). The report highlights the international examples and models for building back better Kerala in 16 sectors. It suggests that Kerala could become the first green state in the country by building on the four pillars of integrated water resources management, eco-sensitive and risk-informed approaches to land use and planning, inclusive and people-centred approaches, and by adopting knowledge, innovation and technology. Chief Minister Vijayan thanked the UN for providing support to the state for flood response and developing PDNA. He requested for the UN technical support in developing sectoral recovery plans, bringing international models and new technologies to Kerala, and in strengthening the recovery committees with experts. The chief minister also sought UN support for mobilising resources for the state within and outside the country. Echoing the views of the Chief Minister, Dr Thomas Issac, Finance Minister, thanked the UN for its assistance in mobilising grants for reconstruction. "We thank the UN for mobilizing grants. This would reduce the amount of borrowing," Issac said. The PDNA is the global methodology developed by the UN, the World Bank and the European Union to assess damage and loss in the wake of disaster and to recommend the recovery needs and strategies. In all, 76 experts from 10 UN agencies and European Union across 13 sectors collaborated to develop the report in 20 days. The UN agencies included, UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO, UN Women, UNFPA, UNEP, WHO, WFP, ILO and FAO and adopted reports of 3 sectors from World Bank and ADB. Besides, two experts on integrated water resources management from Netherlands also provided support. The report was prepared after visiting 120 villages in 10 districts and interacting with experts, affected people, elected representatives, officials and representatives of civil society organisations. "On behalf of the United Nations in India, I am very pleased that we are able to support the exemplary recovery efforts of the Government of Kerala. The resilience and initiative of the people of Kerala have been remarkable throughout and in the aftermath of this disaster, with valuable lessons in innovation for the world,'' said Afanasiev. The UN-supported Post Disaster Needs Assessment builds on this and the best international models for building back better. I strongly believe that Kerala is poised to emerge stronger in a way that sets the standard for future disaster response needs in the region and beyond, and become India`s first green state. The UN team continues to support Kerala through our technical expertise and global linkages across a variety of sectors," he continued. The PDNA was led by the Additional Chief Secretary, PH Kurian, Department of Revenue and Disaster Management and nodal officer, S Venkatespathy, the Director of Fisheries.

UN presents rebuilding strategy to Kerala CM Vijayan

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for investing the “political time and efforts” in issues like health and sanitation.

She said people start looking around at other things that need improvement when they begin to feel that their community is doing better.

“If you invest a dollar in sanitation solutions, the benefit will be four dollars in terms of health cost prevention, the (reduction in) number of visits you go to a doctor and in the medicines that you don’t have to buy,” Fore told PTI in an interview here.

She was in the city to attend an event organised jointly by the UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Friday.

“The prime minister invested political time and effort and what it meant was people began picking up that story. They want to do it for Mahatma Gandhi, for their country and they felt pride in it,” she said in an apparent reference to “Swacch Bharat” Mission.

The flagship cleanliness drive, launched by the prime minister in 2014, aims to clean up the streets, roads and infrastructure of India’s cities, towns, and rural areas.

Modi had said the sanitation coverage in the country has increased from 38 per cent to nearly 80 per cent and asserted that the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ is playing a central role in creating a healthy India.

Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron were recently awarded the UN’s “Champions of the Earth” award for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of cooperation on environmental action.

Fore said, “It (contribution to sanitation) doesn’t have an economic return but when you begin to feel that your community is doing better, it makes you look around at the other things that need improvement”.

“It makes one think that does he have clean water and the solutions for open defecation for all animals in their village, is there a community healthcare clinic, is there enough nutrition for children; not just latrines, what about lighted pathways for all of the girls going to schools. It makes you improve your world,” said the executive director.

When asked about UNICEF’s view on the child mortality rate (CMR) in India during the past decade, Fore said it has shown improvement.

“Since 1990s, when the numbers first began, there was a significant reduction in child mortality. Sanitation, clean India should bring numbers down further. What we don’t know yet is how much further they should bring them down. But it’s an exciting journey for India and we really are on the right path,” she said.

Fore feels that health is one of the challenges an emerging country like India could face in its journey towards a clean nation.

“Clean water brings health benefits in a way that many other national strategies cannot,” she said.

Fore said learning new skills is another challenge for a developing nation because many new industries are expected to flourish.

“(Another challenge is to) How to get more women in labour force…The number of women in formal labour force is going down. If only a third of total women in India are in formal employment, it is not high enough to get all of ideas and energy of India,” she said.

The executive director acknowledged malnutrition as another challenge.

“This is because if a young child does not get proper nutrition before the age of three and first thousand days, it could affect the development of her brain as well as body. It means they cannot be productive, it means the economy will not be doing so well,” she said, adding employment gets affected ultimately because malnutrition denies children an opportunity.

She further said public policy makes a difference in a developing economy.

“So if you begin to look at all these areas a country can look at, India says it wants to skill it youth and (wants to) have a digital future. That vision for future India is what UNICEF and generation unlimited is focused on,” she said.

Fore said if India gets it right for the age group of 10 and 24, it would mean that the country fares well in the decades to come.

“If this young population is not caught between those ages, then it is next to impossible for a country to do well. India’s outreach for these young people will be the tipping point for the developing country,” she said.

When asked if the UNICEF sees the flagship programmes of the prime minister sustaining in future, Fore said, “People want areas like nutrition, health, education, sanitation, water protection etc. irrespective of political climate or which party is in power.

“So it’s up to every community, every household to put a value in it. I believe in terms of sanitation that where there is a room there is a toilet (and) most families would want to keep that. The challenge is to maintain and professionalise it so that people learn to maintain and service it,” she said.

“It’s going to be on each one of us to keep those programmes going that we think benefit the health, education and nutrition in our communities,” she said.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is a United Nations agency headquartered in New York city that provides humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries. It is a member of the United Nations Development Group.

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for investing the “political time and efforts” in issues like health and sanitation.

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for investing the “political time and efforts” in issues like health and sanitation. She said people start looking around at other things that need improvement when they begin to feel that their community is doing better. “If you invest a dollar in sanitation solutions, the benefit will be four dollars in terms of health cost prevention, the (reduction in) number of visits you go to a doctor and in the medicines that you don’t have to buy,” Fore told PTI in an interview here. She was in the city to attend an event organised jointly by the UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Friday. “The prime minister invested political time and effort and what it meant was people began picking up that story. They want to do it for Mahatma Gandhi, for their country and they felt pride in it,” she said in an apparent reference to “Swacch Bharat” Mission. The flagship cleanliness drive, launched by the prime minister in 2014, aims to clean up the streets, roads and infrastructure of India’s cities, towns, and rural areas. Modi had said the sanitation coverage in the country has increased from 38 per cent to nearly 80 per cent and asserted that the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ is playing a central role in creating a healthy India. Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron were recently awarded the UN’s “Champions of the Earth” award for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of cooperation on environmental action. Fore said, “It (contribution to sanitation) doesn’t have an economic return but when you begin to feel that your community is doing better, it makes you look around at the other things that need improvement”. “It makes one think that does he have clean water and the solutions for open defecation for all animals in their village, is there a community healthcare clinic, is there enough nutrition for children; not just latrines, what about lighted pathways for all of the girls going to schools. It makes you improve your world,” said the executive director. When asked about UNICEF’s view on the child mortality rate (CMR) in India during the past decade, Fore said it has shown improvement. “Since 1990s, when the numbers first began, there was a significant reduction in child mortality. Sanitation, clean India should bring numbers down further. What we don’t know yet is how much further they should bring them down. But it’s an exciting journey for India and we really are on the right path,” she said. Fore feels that health is one of the challenges an emerging country like India could face in its journey towards a clean nation. “Clean water brings health benefits in a way that many other national strategies cannot,” she said. Fore said learning new skills is another challenge for a developing nation because many new industries are expected to flourish. “(Another challenge is to) How to get more women in labour force…The number of women in formal labour force is going down. If only a third of total women in India are in formal employment, it is not high enough to get all of ideas and energy of India,” she said. The executive director acknowledged malnutrition as another challenge. “This is because if a young child does not get proper nutrition before the age of three and first thousand days, it could affect the development of her brain as well as body. It means they cannot be productive, it means the economy will not be doing so well,” she said, adding employment gets affected ultimately because malnutrition denies children an opportunity. She further said public policy makes a difference in a developing economy. “So if you begin to look at all these areas a country can look at, India says it wants to skill it youth and (wants to) have a digital future. That vision for future India is what UNICEF and generation unlimited is focused on,” she said. Fore said if India gets it right for the age group of 10 and 24, it would mean that the country fares well in the decades to come. “If this young population is not caught between those ages, then it is next to impossible for a country to do well. India’s outreach for these young people will be the tipping point for the developing country,” she said. When asked if the UNICEF sees the flagship programmes of the prime minister sustaining in future, Fore said, “People want areas like nutrition, health, education, sanitation, water protection etc. irrespective of political climate or which party is in power. “So it’s up to every community, every household to put a value in it. I believe in terms of sanitation that where there is a room there is a toilet (and) most families would want to keep that. The challenge is to maintain and professionalise it so that people learn to maintain and service it,” she said. “It’s going to be on each one of us to keep those programmes going that we think benefit the health, education and nutrition in our communities,” she said. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is a United Nations agency headquartered in New York city that provides humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries. It is a member of the United Nations Development Group.

UNICEF praises PM Modi for ‘investing’ political time in health, sanitation issues

Half a million children are in "immediate danger" in Libya's capital Tripoli due to fighting, the United Nations children's fund UNICEF said on Monday.

Clashes that broke out between rival militias in late August had killed at least 115 people and wounded nearly 400 by Saturday night, according to Libya's health ministry.

UNICEF said Monday that "over 1,200 families have been displaced in the past 48 hours alone as clashes intensified in southern Tripoli".

That brings the total number of people displaced by the recent fighting to over 25,000, half of whom are children, UNICEF said.&nbsp;

"More children are reportedly being recruited to fight, putting them in immediate danger. At least one child was killed as a result," said Geert Cappelaere, the UN agency's Middle East and North Africa director.

UNICEF also said schools are increasingly being used to shelter displaced families, which is likely to delay the start of the academic year beyond October 3.

It said residents are facing food, power and water shortages, adding that the clashes have exacerbated the plight of migrants.

"Hundreds of detained refugees and migrants, including children, were forced to move because of violence. Others are stranded in centres in dire conditions", Cappelaere said.

Despite a UN-brokered ceasefire on September 4, fighting broke out again last week in southern districts of the capital.

The clashes have pitted armed groups from Tarhuna and Misrata against Tripoli militias nominally controlled by Libya's UN-backed unity government.

The Libyan capital has been at the centre of a battle for influence between armed groups since dictator Moamer Kadhafi was ousted in a NATO-backed 2011 uprising.

The country's unity government has struggled to exert its control in the face of a multitude of militias and a rival administration based in eastern Libya.

Half a million children are in "immediate danger" in Libya's capital Tripoli due to fighting, the United Nations children's fund UNICEF said on Monday. Clashes that broke out between rival militias in late August had killed at least 115 people and wounded nearly 400 by Saturday night, according to Libya's health ministry.

Half a million children are in "immediate danger" in Libya's capital Tripoli due to fighting, the United Nations children's fund UNICEF said on Monday. Clashes that broke out between rival militias in late August had killed at least 115 people and wounded nearly 400 by Saturday night, according to Libya's health ministry. UNICEF said Monday that "over 1,200 families have been displaced in the past 48 hours alone as clashes intensified in southern Tripoli". That brings the total number of people displaced by the recent fighting to over 25,000, half of whom are children, UNICEF said. "More children are reportedly being recruited to fight, putting them in immediate danger. At least one child was killed as a result," said Geert Cappelaere, the UN agency's Middle East and North Africa director. UNICEF also said schools are increasingly being used to shelter displaced families, which is likely to delay the start of the academic year beyond October 3. It said residents are facing food, power and water shortages, adding that the clashes have exacerbated the plight of migrants. "Hundreds of detained refugees and migrants, including children, were forced to move because of violence. Others are stranded in centres in dire conditions", Cappelaere said. Despite a UN-brokered ceasefire on September 4, fighting broke out again last week in southern districts of the capital. The clashes have pitted armed groups from Tarhuna and Misrata against Tripoli militias nominally controlled by Libya's UN-backed unity government. The Libyan capital has been at the centre of a battle for influence between armed groups since dictator Moamer Kadhafi was ousted in a NATO-backed 2011 uprising. The country's unity government has struggled to exert its control in the face of a multitude of militias and a rival administration based in eastern Libya.

500,000 children face 'immediate danger' in Libya capital: UN

India is among almost 90 countries in the world without national policies in place that ensure new fathers get adequate paid time off with their newborn babies, according to a new UNICEF analysis.&nbsp

Almost two-third&nbspof the world's children under one-year-old, nearly 90 million, live in countries where their fathers are not entitled by law to a single day of paid paternity leave, the UNICEF analysis said.

India and Nigeria, which have high infant populations, are among the 92 countries do not have national policies in place that ensure new fathers get adequate paid time off with their newborn babies.&nbsp

The UN agency noted that around the world, momentum for family-friendly policies was growing. It cited the example of India, where officials are proposing a Paternity Benefit Bill for consideration in the next session of Parliament which would allow fathers up to three months of paid paternity leave.

Noting that much work remains to be done, UNICEF said in eight countries across the world, including the United States which is home to nearly four million infants, there was no paid maternity or paternity leave policy.

Other countries with high infant populations, including Brazil and Congo, all have national paid paternity leave policies, albeit offering relatively short-term entitlements.

"Positive and meaningful interaction with mothers and fathers from the very beginning helps shape children's brain growth and development for life, making them healthier and happier, and increasing their ability to learn. It's all of our responsibility to enable them to fill this role," UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said.

Evidence suggests that when fathers bond with their babies from the beginning of life, they are more likely to play a more active role in the child's development. Research also suggests that when children positively interact with their fathers, they have better psychological health, self-esteem and life-satisfaction in the long-term, the UNICEF said.

UNICEF urged governments to implement national family-friendly policies that support early childhood development, including paid paternity leave, to help provide parents with the time, resources and information they need to care for their children.&nbsp

Earlier this year, UNICEF modernised its approach to parental leave provisions, with up to 16 weeks of paid leave for paternity across all of its offices worldwide&nbspthe first United Nations agency to extend such leave beyond the standard four weeks.

"We cannot be 'For Every Child', if we are not also 'For Every Parent'. We have to ask more of governments and more of employers if we're going to give fathers and mothers the time and resources they need to nurture their children, particularly during the earliest years of a child's life," Fore said.

The new analysis forms part of UNICEF's 'Super Dads' campaign, now in its second year, which aims to break down barriers preventing fathers from playing an active role in their young children's development.&nbsp

The campaign celebrates 'Father's Day'&nbsprecognised in more than 80 countries in June&nbspand focuses on the importance of love, play, protection and good nutrition for the healthy development of young children's brains.&nbsp

Almost two-third of the world's children under one-year-old, nearly 90 million, live in countries where their fathers are not entitled by law to a single day of paid paternity leave

India is among almost 90 countries in the world without national policies in place that ensure new fathers get adequate paid time off with their newborn babies, according to a new UNICEF analysis. Almost two-third&nbspof the world's children under one-year-old, nearly 90 million, live in countries where their fathers are not entitled by law to a single day of paid paternity leave, the UNICEF analysis said. India and Nigeria, which have high infant populations, are among the 92 countries do not have national policies in place that ensure new fathers get adequate paid time off with their newborn babies. The UN agency noted that around the world, momentum for family-friendly policies was growing. It cited the example of India, where officials are proposing a Paternity Benefit Bill for consideration in the next session of Parliament which would allow fathers up to three months of paid paternity leave. Noting that much work remains to be done, UNICEF said in eight countries across the world, including the United States which is home to nearly four million infants, there was no paid maternity or paternity leave policy. Other countries with high infant populations, including Brazil and Congo, all have national paid paternity leave policies, albeit offering relatively short-term entitlements. "Positive and meaningful interaction with mothers and fathers from the very beginning helps shape children's brain growth and development for life, making them healthier and happier, and increasing their ability to learn. It's all of our responsibility to enable them to fill this role," UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said. Evidence suggests that when fathers bond with their babies from the beginning of life, they are more likely to play a more active role in the child's development. Research also suggests that when children positively interact with their fathers, they have better psychological health, self-esteem and life-satisfaction in the long-term, the UNICEF said. UNICEF urged governments to implement national family-friendly policies that support early childhood development, including paid paternity leave, to help provide parents with the time, resources and information they need to care for their children. Earlier this year, UNICEF modernised its approach to parental leave provisions, with up to 16 weeks of paid leave for paternity across all of its offices worldwide&nbspthe first United Nations agency to extend such leave beyond the standard four weeks. "We cannot be 'For Every Child', if we are not also 'For Every Parent'. We have to ask more of governments and more of employers if we're going to give fathers and mothers the time and resources they need to nurture their children, particularly during the earliest years of a child's life," Fore said. The new analysis forms part of UNICEF's 'Super Dads' campaign, now in its second year, which aims to break down barriers preventing fathers from playing an active role in their young children's development. The campaign celebrates 'Father's Day'&nbsprecognised in more than 80 countries in June&nbspand focuses on the importance of love, play, protection and good nutrition for the healthy development of young children's brains.

India among over 90 nations without paid paternity leave for new dads: UNICEF

UNICEF's India representative Yasmin Ali Haque has commended India's 'impressive progress' in reducing maternal deaths.

A recent sample registration system (SRS) data, released by Registrar General of India showed a 22 per cent decline in country's maternal mortality ratio (MMR) since 2013. The MMR declined to 130 in 2014-16 from 167 in 2011-13.

"India has shown impressive progress in reducing maternal deaths, with nearly 1000 fewer women now dying of pregnancy-related complications each month in India as compared to 2013," Haque said.

She further added, "What is even more heartening to see is that the state of Uttar Pradesh, which accounts for the highest share of home deliveries in the country has led the charts with a near 30 per cent reduction, which is even higher than the national average of 22 per cent."

She, however, noted that even one maternal death is too many and that it is everyone's shared responsibility to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

"Ensuring every woman delivers with a safe pair of hands and even pregnant women living in the remotest and the poorest household of the country gets timely access to quality care during and before birth is going to be the key. The time for all of us to act is now," she added. 
&nbsp

A recent sample registration system (SRS) data, released by Registrar General of India showed a 22 per cent decline in country's maternal mortality ratio (MMR) since 2013. The MMR declined to 130 in 2014-16 from 167 in 2011-13

UNICEF's India representative Yasmin Ali Haque has commended India's 'impressive progress' in reducing maternal deaths. A recent sample registration system (SRS) data, released by Registrar General of India showed a 22 per cent decline in country's maternal mortality ratio (MMR) since 2013. The MMR declined to 130 in 2014-16 from 167 in 2011-13. "India has shown impressive progress in reducing maternal deaths, with nearly 1000 fewer women now dying of pregnancy-related complications each month in India as compared to 2013," Haque said. She further added, "What is even more heartening to see is that the state of Uttar Pradesh, which accounts for the highest share of home deliveries in the country has led the charts with a near 30 per cent reduction, which is even higher than the national average of 22 per cent." She, however, noted that even one maternal death is too many and that it is everyone's shared responsibility to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths. "Ensuring every woman delivers with a safe pair of hands and even pregnant women living in the remotest and the poorest household of the country gets timely access to quality care during and before birth is going to be the key. The time for all of us to act is now," she added.

UNICEF lauds India for decline in maternal mortality ratio

Priyanka Chopra never fails to make a statement -- be it in her personal choices or professional commitments. As a global UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights, the globetrotter is currently in Dhaka, Bangladesh spreading warmth among the displaced kids and their families as is visible in pictures shared by her on her Instagram page.&nbsp;

Dressed modestly with a headcover in most photos, Priyanka feeds nutrient-rich UNICEF provided food supplement to malnourished Rohingya refugee kids as their mothers and other UNICEF volunteers look on. In others, she engages with the kids as she plays with them.&nbsp;

Priyanka had earlier posted about the start of the Bangladesh journey as she insisted that world deals with empathy and wrote: “Follow my Instagram to share my experiences as I visit the Rohingya refugee camps on this Unicef field visit. Children uprooted, the world needs to care. We need to care.”

It has been more than a decade for Priyanka to be associated with UNICEF as she promotes causes such as environment, health and education and women’s rights among many others. Last year, Priyanka had met Syrian refugee children in Jordan.

Priyanka with Rohingya refugee kids in Bangladesh:&nbsp;

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjIb4wAD6jA/" style=" color:#000 font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px font-style:normal font-weight:normal line-height:17px text-decoration:none word-wrap:break-word" target="_blank">This is little Shohida (8 months old), who stole my heart with her infectious smile. It’s a poignant reminder of the dichotomy of life...here she was getting all the help she needed, when just a few months before, her mother, Alada (who was only 19 years old at the time) walked for 15 days, while 6 months pregnant with her ,to get across the border. It shows us that there is hope left in this world. When you’re dealing with a mass exodus of thousands of people, who have been displaced from their homes and are desperate for refuge, the need for proper health and nutrition takes center stage...especially for women and children. On the various Unicef Field Visits I have taken, I am always surprised by the simple yet effective solutions that @unicef and their partners develop to deal with the most dire and pressing situations and issues. This is something I experienced again today during my visit to the Nutrition Centre at the Jamtoli camp in Cox’s Bazar. More than 60,000 babies have been born in the camps over the past 8 months, so this center is an essential resource for new mothers to learn about proper feeding and nutrition. It all begins with the MUAC, a process where the child’s middle upper arm is measured to ascertain their nutrition level. From there, aids create a program for the child and a nutrient rich, ready-to-eat peanut paste is portioned out for each child based on the severity of malnutrition. At the Center mother’s are also taught basic hygiene and good health practices when they are in their homes. The world needs to care. We need to care. Please lend your support at www.supportunicef.org #childrenuprooted @unicef @unicefbangladesh</a>

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjIVj8dD2lE/" style=" color:#000 font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px font-style:normal font-weight:normal line-height:17px text-decoration:none word-wrap:break-word" target="_blank">As I walk into the Women Friendly Space at the Jamtoli Camp, I am instantly struck by a certain calmness. These camps are loud & crowded, actually overcrowded, and so to find a quiet oasis, in this case a small hut with a tarp roof and thatched bamboo walls, is surprising. But for the girls in this camp, this is what they call their “house of peace.” It’s a place they can come and just be. A place to interact with friends, seek counselling, learn about hygiene, or learn life skills like art and music. There are approx 50 Women Friendly Spaces in the camps, just like this one, that on any given day see 50-70 Rohingya girls seeking these safe havens. The centers open at 9am, but there is seldom a day when the women aren’t lined up early, waiting for the doors to open. It is here that I met three 18 year old young women, in particular, who’s stories really shook me - their names have been omitted to protect their identities. They recounted lives of pain and suffering so horrifying...it’s difficult to fathom. One scarred with memories of houses in her village being burned - she and her parents traveled for two days to get here, passing hundreds of decapitated and dismembered bodies along the way. Another shared stories of young girls being pulled from their homes to be raped and tortured. They even tried to kill her and cut her with a knife, but she fought back. How did you manage to be so brave, I asked her...she replied, “If you’re born you will die, so I’m not scared of dying today.” In what world is it normal for an 18 year old girl to have this perspective on life?! The third young woman traveled for nearly two weeks on foot through the forest, where her youngest brother died along the way. There was lots of rape and torture back home she told me, and some women’s breasts were even cut off. While their lives are safer now, they are all still struggling. They know that with an education they can get a job and create better lives for their family, like buying protein for their meals, and clean drinking water. It’s literally as basic as that. Please help however you can, no donation is too small...go to www.supportunicef.org #childrenuprooted @unicef</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px line-height:17px margin-bottom:0 margin-top:8px overflow:hidden padding:8px 0 7px text-align:center text-overflow:ellipsis white-space:nowrap">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/priyankachopra/" style=" color:#c9c8cd font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px font-style:normal font-weight:normal line-height:17px" target="_blank"> Priyanka Chopra</a> (@priyankachopra) on <time datetime="2018-05-23T18:37:22+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px line-height:17px">May 23, 2018 at 11:37am PDT</time>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjFQbxXAXES/" style=" color:#000 font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px font-style:normal font-weight:normal line-height:17px text-decoration:none word-wrap:break-word" target="_blank">When Mansur Ali, 12 yrs old, first came to the Child Friendly Space (CFS) at the Balukhali camp, he was only drawing scenes of bloodshed and violence. Helicopters shooting at him and his friends playing soccer... or his village and home being on fire with burning bodies all around him.. Today, his drawings reflect a more hopeful story, one we would like all these children to have. Since the #Rohingya children have arrived in Cox’s Bazar, they have been living in overcrowded camps with no real place that to call their own. Imagine a space that lets you forget your troubles and be a child again... even if its only for just a few hours a day. For the Rohingya children, over 300,000, in the camps in Bangladesh this is the only space that allows them to be kids. These Child Friendly Spaces created by @unicef give kids access to art, music, dance, sport, and counselling etc. The space has often proved to be very therapeutic, helping these kids deal with the horrific situations they faced.. the @unicef aid workers work tirelessly to make sure these children find their spirit again. It doesn’t matter where a child is from or what his or her circumstances are... NO child deserves a life without hope for the future. The world needs to care. We need to care. Please lend your support at www.supportunicef.org #childrenuprooted @unicef @unicefbangladesh</a>

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjE5B86jzTu/" style=" color:#000 font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px font-style:normal font-weight:normal line-height:17px text-decoration:none word-wrap:break-word" target="_blank">Across the river is Myanmar(Burma.) It’s empty now, but a few months ago this area, known as “Sabrang,” was filled with hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar. Their trip here was filled with many hardships and tremendous danger. Many of them made their journey on foot, walking for days through the hills, then floating across the Naf River or the Bay of Bengal on make shift boats...many of them injured, pregnant, elderly, etc. Their ordeal didn’t end here...after entering Bangladesh, they would often have to wait for days, sleeping in the open fields with no food or water, for aid workers to reach them. For a lot of the Rohingya children, this ordeal will leave them scarred, physically and emotionally, for the rest of their lives. With your help, maybe these children can have a chance at a future...because right now, their future is bleak. The world needs to care. We need to care. Please lend your support at www.supportunicef.org #ChildrenUprooted @unicef @unicefbangladesh</a>

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On the work front, Priyanka will be seen in Salman Khan’s “Bharat”.&nbsp;

Priyanka Chopra is on a field visit to refugee camps in Dhaka, Bangladesh as UNICEF brand ambassador

Priyanka Chopra never fails to make a statement -- be it in her personal choices or professional commitments. As a global UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights, the globetrotter is currently in Dhaka, Bangladesh spreading warmth among the displaced kids and their families as is visible in pictures shared by her on her Instagram page. Dressed modestly with a headcover in most photos, Priyanka feeds nutrient-rich UNICEF provided food supplement to malnourished Rohingya refugee kids as their mothers and other UNICEF volunteers look on. In others, she engages with the kids as she plays with them. Priyanka had earlier posted about the start of the Bangladesh journey as she insisted that world deals with empathy and wrote: “Follow my Instagram to share my experiences as I visit the Rohingya refugee camps on this Unicef field visit. Children uprooted, the world needs to care. We need to care.” It has been more than a decade for Priyanka to be associated with UNICEF as she promotes causes such as environment, health and education and women’s rights among many others. Last year, Priyanka had met Syrian refugee children in Jordan. Priyanka with Rohingya refugee kids in Bangladesh: This is little Shohida (8 months old), who stole my heart with her infectious smile. It’s a poignant reminder of the dichotomy of life...here she was getting all the help she needed, when just a few months before, her mother, Alada (who was only 19 years old at the time) walked for 15 days, while 6 months pregnant with her ,to get across the border. It shows us that there is hope left in this world. When you’re dealing with a mass exodus of thousands of people, who have been displaced from their homes and are desperate for refuge, the need for proper health and nutrition takes center stage...especially for women and children. On the various Unicef Field Visits I have taken, I am always surprised by the simple yet effective solutions that @unicef and their partners develop to deal with the most dire and pressing situations and issues. This is something I experienced again today during my visit to the Nutrition Centre at the Jamtoli camp in Cox’s Bazar. More than 60,000 babies have been born in the camps over the past 8 months, so this center is an essential resource for new mothers to learn about proper feeding and nutrition. It all begins with the MUAC, a process where the child’s middle upper arm is measured to ascertain their nutrition level. From there, aids create a program for the child and a nutrient rich, ready-to-eat peanut paste is portioned out for each child based on the severity of malnutrition. At the Center mother’s are also taught basic hygiene and good health practices when they are in their homes. The world needs to care. We need to care. Please lend your support at www.supportunicef.org #childrenuprooted @unicef @unicefbangladesh A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on May 23, 2018 at 12:32pm PDT × As I walk into the Women Friendly Space at the Jamtoli Camp, I am instantly struck by a certain calmness. These camps are loud & crowded, actually overcrowded, and so to find a quiet oasis, in this case a small hut with a tarp roof and thatched bamboo walls, is surprising. But for the girls in this camp, this is what they call their “house of peace.” It’s a place they can come and just be. A place to interact with friends, seek counselling, learn about hygiene, or learn life skills like art and music. There are approx 50 Women Friendly Spaces in the camps, just like this one, that on any given day see 50-70 Rohingya girls seeking these safe havens. The centers open at 9am, but there is seldom a day when the women aren’t lined up early, waiting for the doors to open. It is here that I met three 18 year old young women, in particular, who’s stories really shook me - their names have been omitted to protect their identities. They recounted lives of pain and suffering so horrifying...it’s difficult to fathom. One scarred with memories of houses in her village being burned - she and her parents traveled for two days to get here, passing hundreds of decapitated and dismembered bodies along the way. Another shared stories of young girls being pulled from their homes to be raped and tortured. They even tried to kill her and cut her with a knife, but she fought back. How did you manage to be so brave, I asked her...she replied, “If you’re born you will die, so I’m not scared of dying today.” In what world is it normal for an 18 year old girl to have this perspective on life?! The third young woman traveled for nearly two weeks on foot through the forest, where her youngest brother died along the way. There was lots of rape and torture back home she told me, and some women’s breasts were even cut off. While their lives are safer now, they are all still struggling. They know that with an education they can get a job and create better lives for their family, like buying protein for their meals, and clean drinking water. It’s literally as basic as that. Please help however you can, no donation is too small...go to www.supportunicef.org #childrenuprooted @unicef A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on May 23, 2018 at 11:37am PDT × When Mansur Ali, 12 yrs old, first came to the Child Friendly Space (CFS) at the Balukhali camp, he was only drawing scenes of bloodshed and violence. Helicopters shooting at him and his friends playing soccer... or his village and home being on fire with burning bodies all around him.. Today, his drawings reflect a more hopeful story, one we would like all these children to have. Since the #Rohingya children have arrived in Cox’s Bazar, they have been living in overcrowded camps with no real place that to call their own. Imagine a space that lets you forget your troubles and be a child again... even if its only for just a few hours a day. For the Rohingya children, over 300,000, in the camps in Bangladesh this is the only space that allows them to be kids. These Child Friendly Spaces created by @unicef give kids access to art, music, dance, sport, and counselling etc. The space has often proved to be very therapeutic, helping these kids deal with the horrific situations they faced.. the @unicef aid workers work tirelessly to make sure these children find their spirit again. It doesn’t matter where a child is from or what his or her circumstances are... NO child deserves a life without hope for the future. The world needs to care. We need to care. Please lend your support at www.supportunicef.org #childrenuprooted @unicef @unicefbangladesh A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on May 22, 2018 at 6:54am PDT × Across the river is Myanmar(Burma.) It’s empty now, but a few months ago this area, known as “Sabrang,” was filled with hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar. Their trip here was filled with many hardships and tremendous danger. Many of them made their journey on foot, walking for days through the hills, then floating across the Naf River or the Bay of Bengal on make shift boats...many of them injured, pregnant, elderly, etc. Their ordeal didn’t end here...after entering Bangladesh, they would often have to wait for days, sleeping in the open fields with no food or water, for aid workers to reach them. For a lot of the Rohingya children, this ordeal will leave them scarred, physically and emotionally, for the rest of their lives. With your help, maybe these children can have a chance at a future...because right now, their future is bleak. The world needs to care. We need to care. Please lend your support at www.supportunicef.org #ChildrenUprooted @unicef @unicefbangladesh A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on May 22, 2018 at 3:30am PDT × On the work front, Priyanka will be seen in Salman Khan’s “Bharat”.

In pictures: Priyanka Chopra spends the day with Rohingya refugee children

More than a third of girls in South Asia miss school during their periods, often because they lack access to toilets or pads, and many receive no education about menstruation before reaching puberty, a study showed on Tuesday.

The report by charity WaterAid and UNICEF found most countries in the region fell well short of the World Health Organization standard of one toilet for every 25 girls, making it difficult for students to attend school during their periods.

In one district in Nepal there was just one toilet for every 170 girls, it said.

“Girls have an irrevocable right to education, which is lost if they feel unable to attend lessons because of a lack of sanitary products or clean, private toilets at school,” said WaterAid Chief Executive Tim Wainwright.

“Governments simply need to ensure that every school has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.”

Education about menstruation is lacking across the region, the report said. In Sri Lanka, two-thirds of girls said they received no information before starting their periods.

That can be damaging in a region where taboos surrounding menstruation already exist, said Thérèse Mahon, the report’s co-author.

“Girls often turn to their mothers and teachers for support, but if they lack the confidence and information themselves, they may instead perpetuate taboos,” said Mahon, who is WaterAid’s regional program manager.

“A common perception is that periods are a dirty secret.”

Some South Asian cultures consider women to be impure during menstruation, when they are barred from religious shrines, subjected to dietary checks or forced to live in isolation.

They often face social discrimination, reproductive health problems and low self-esteem due to a lack of awareness about periods.

The topic is rarely discussed openly, and the silence burdens young girls by keeping them ignorant and subject to social exclusion, campaigners say.

Many end up suffering from infections and disease since they are not informed early enough about the physiological process and hygiene practices to follow.

Several South Asian nations have begun to add menstrual information in school curriculums but the report, launched ahead of World Menstrual Hygiene day on May 28, said there was still much to be done.

“Removing the stresses associated with menstruation can help girls and boys adjust and contribute better to the world around them,” UNICEF’s regional director Jean Gough told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Reporting by Annie Banerji @anniebanerji, Editing by Claire Cozens. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters that covers humanitarian issues, conflicts, land and property rights, modern slavery and human trafficking, gender equality, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org to see more stories

The report by charity WaterAid and UNICEF found most countries in the region fell well short of the World Health Organization standard of one toilet for every 25 girls, making it difficult for students to attend school during their periods

More than a third of girls in South Asia miss school during their periods, often because they lack access to toilets or pads, and many receive no education about menstruation before reaching puberty, a study showed on Tuesday. The report by charity WaterAid and UNICEF found most countries in the region fell well short of the World Health Organization standard of one toilet for every 25 girls, making it difficult for students to attend school during their periods. In one district in Nepal there was just one toilet for every 170 girls, it said. “Girls have an irrevocable right to education, which is lost if they feel unable to attend lessons because of a lack of sanitary products or clean, private toilets at school,” said WaterAid Chief Executive Tim Wainwright. “Governments simply need to ensure that every school has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.” Education about menstruation is lacking across the region, the report said. In Sri Lanka, two-thirds of girls said they received no information before starting their periods. That can be damaging in a region where taboos surrounding menstruation already exist, said Thérèse Mahon, the report’s co-author. “Girls often turn to their mothers and teachers for support, but if they lack the confidence and information themselves, they may instead perpetuate taboos,” said Mahon, who is WaterAid’s regional program manager. “A common perception is that periods are a dirty secret.” Some South Asian cultures consider women to be impure during menstruation, when they are barred from religious shrines, subjected to dietary checks or forced to live in isolation. They often face social discrimination, reproductive health problems and low self-esteem due to a lack of awareness about periods. The topic is rarely discussed openly, and the silence burdens young girls by keeping them ignorant and subject to social exclusion, campaigners say. Many end up suffering from infections and disease since they are not informed early enough about the physiological process and hygiene practices to follow. Several South Asian nations have begun to add menstrual information in school curriculums but the report, launched ahead of World Menstrual Hygiene day on May 28, said there was still much to be done. “Removing the stresses associated with menstruation can help girls and boys adjust and contribute better to the world around them,” UNICEF’s regional director Jean Gough told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Reporting by Annie Banerji @anniebanerji, Editing by Claire Cozens. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters that covers humanitarian issues, conflicts, land and property rights, modern slavery and human trafficking, gender equality, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org to see more stories

Third of girls in South Asia miss school during periods: Study

From <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-priyanka-chopra-shimmers-in-a-dior-gown-at-prince-harry-and-meghan-markles-wedding-reception-138541">slaying at the royal wedding</a> in Windsor of ‘good friend’ <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/inside-the-royal-wedding-of-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-138250#photo-138258">Meghan Markle with Prince Harry</a> to now meeting with Rohingya refugees in Dhaka, Bangladesh -- Priyanka Chopra is one of the busiest Bollywood celebrity.

As a global UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights, Priyanka went on a field trip to visit refugee children.&nbsp;

In pictures shared on her Instagram page, Priyanka is seen clad in UNICEF t-shirt and a modest scarf that covers her head as she is surrounded by teary-eyed children. In a long post, she wrote about the trauma that kids face when they don’t have a permanent house or an identity.&nbsp;

This is the post:&nbsp;

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjCogFUjjff/" style=" color:#000 font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px font-style:normal font-weight:normal line-height:17px text-decoration:none word-wrap:break-word" target="_blank">I’m in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh today for a field visit with UNICEF, to one of the largest refugee camps in the world. In the second half of 2017, the world saw horrific images of ethnic cleansing from the Rakhine State of Myanmar(Burma). This violence drove nearly 700,000 Rohingya across the border into Bangladesh - 60% are children! Many months later they are still highly vulnerable, living in overcrowded camps with no idea when or where they will ever belong...even worse, when they will get their next meal. AND...as they finally start to settle and feel a sense of safety, monsoon season looms...threatening to destroy all that they’ve built so far. This is an entire generation of children that have no future in sight. Through their smiles I could see the vacancy in their eyes. These children are at the forefront of this humanitarian crisis, and they desperately need our help. The world needs to care. We need to care. These kids are our future. Pls Lend your support at www.supportunicef.org #ChildrenUprooted @unicef @unicefbangladesh Credit: @briansokol @hhhtravels</a>

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Priyanka on her way to Dhaka shared a photo from her cabin on an aeroplane as she wrote: “Follow my Instagram to share my experiences as I visit the Rohingya refugee camps on this Unicef field visit. Children uprooted, the world needs to care. We need to care.”

This is the post:&nbsp;

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Follow my Instagram to share my experiences as I visit the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rohingya?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rohingya</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Refugee?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Refugee</a> camps on this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnicefFieldVisit?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnicefFieldVisit</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChildrenUprooted?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChildrenUprooted</a> 
 
The world needs to care. We need to care. <a href="https://twitter.com/UNICEF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNICEF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UNICEFBD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNICEFBD</a> <a href="https://t.co/cBFy66V8dB">pic.twitter.com/cBFy66V8dB</a>
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) <a href="https://twitter.com/priyankachopra/status/998441704238862337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Priyanka has been working with UNICEF for a decade now and was appointed as the national and global UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights in 2010 and 2016. She promotes causes such as environment, health and education and women’s rights among many others.

Last year, Priyanka had met Syrian refugee children in Jordan.

On the work front, Priyanka will be seen in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-disha-patani-to-join-salman-khans-bharat-alongwith-priyanka-chopra--137630">Salman Khan’s “Bharat”.&nbsp;</a>

Priyanka is on a UNICEF field trip to Bangladesh to meet Rohingya refugees.

From slaying at the royal wedding in Windsor of ‘good friend’ Meghan Markle with Prince Harry to now meeting with Rohingya refugees in Dhaka, Bangladesh -- Priyanka Chopra is one of the busiest Bollywood celebrity. As a global UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights, Priyanka went on a field trip to visit refugee children. In pictures shared on her Instagram page, Priyanka is seen clad in UNICEF t-shirt and a modest scarf that covers her head as she is surrounded by teary-eyed children. In a long post, she wrote about the trauma that kids face when they don’t have a permanent house or an identity. This is the post: I’m in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh today for a field visit with UNICEF, to one of the largest refugee camps in the world. In the second half of 2017, the world saw horrific images of ethnic cleansing from the Rakhine State of Myanmar(Burma). This violence drove nearly 700,000 Rohingya across the border into Bangladesh - 60% are children! Many months later they are still highly vulnerable, living in overcrowded camps with no idea when or where they will ever belong...even worse, when they will get their next meal. AND...as they finally start to settle and feel a sense of safety, monsoon season looms...threatening to destroy all that they’ve built so far. This is an entire generation of children that have no future in sight. Through their smiles I could see the vacancy in their eyes. These children are at the forefront of this humanitarian crisis, and they desperately need our help. The world needs to care. We need to care. These kids are our future. Pls Lend your support at www.supportunicef.org #ChildrenUprooted @unicef @unicefbangladesh Credit: @briansokol @hhhtravels A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on May 21, 2018 at 6:27am PDT × Priyanka on her way to Dhaka shared a photo from her cabin on an aeroplane as she wrote: “Follow my Instagram to share my experiences as I visit the Rohingya refugee camps on this Unicef field visit. Children uprooted, the world needs to care. We need to care.” This is the post: Follow my Instagram to share my experiences as I visit the #Rohingya #Refugee camps on this #UnicefFieldVisit. #ChildrenUprooted The world needs to care. We need to care. @UNICEF @UNICEFBD pic.twitter.com/cBFy66V8dB — PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) May 21, 2018 × Priyanka has been working with UNICEF for a decade now and was appointed as the national and global UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights in 2010 and 2016. She promotes causes such as environment, health and education and women’s rights among many others. Last year, Priyanka had met Syrian refugee children in Jordan. On the work front, Priyanka will be seen in Salman Khan’s “Bharat”.

'World needs to care,' says Priyanka Chopra as she meets Rohingya refugee children

Priyanka Chopra is in India for a brief visit and the actress is making the most of it. On Wednesday, dressed in a white traditional outfit, the actress met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in regards to an upcoming conference of Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH). 
 
The actress posted a photo with PM Modi on her Instagram page informing her followers about the meet.&nbsp 
 
She, along with the delegation, including Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and former President of Chile and incoming chair of PMNCH Board Michelle Bachelet, invited the Prime Minister to join the upcoming PMNCH Partners` Forum, to be held in New Delhi on December 12-13. 
 
In her post, the actor, who is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, expressed gratitude to PM Modi for meeting them and described the conversation with the Prime Minister as "insightful". 
"Very grateful to the honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi to meet me, Shri J.P. Nadda (Indian Health Minister) and Mrs. Michelle Bachelet, (former President of Chile, incoming #PMNCH Chair) in regards to being a patron for the Partners` Forum which is being held in New Delhi in December this year. The aim is very important - the improvement and transformation of access to quality healthcare at at every life stage for women, children and adolescents, in an effort to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030," she wrote in her post.

"This year, India will play host to the largest ever Partners` Forum, with more than 1,200 delegates from more than 92 countries." 
 
It was an insightful, positive conversation which was very heartening and inspiring because of the personal commitment of everyone at the meeting. We covered a lot of ground from the various efforts being taken by individual countries & partners to building a collective environment that could help propel the change we seek for a better world."We started something important today and I am looking forward to what is being set in motion," the post further read.&nbsp

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BhcCY8VAQI1/" style=" color:#000 font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px font-style:normal font-weight:normal line-height:17px text-decoration:none word-wrap:break-word" target="_blank">Very grateful to the honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi to meet me, Shri J.P. Nadda (Indian Health Minister) and Mrs. Michelle Bachelet, (former President of Chile, incoming #PMNCH Chair) in regards to being a patron for the Partners' Forum which is being held in New Delhi in December this year. The aim is very important - the improvement and transformation of access to quality healthcare at at every life stage for women, children and adolescents, in an effort to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030. This year, India will play host to the largest ever Partners' Forum, with more than 1,200 delegates from more than 92 countries. It was an insightful, positive conversation which was very heartening and inspiring because of the personal commitment of everyone at the meeting. We covered a lot of ground from the various efforts being taken by individual countries & partners to building a collective environment that could help propel the change we seek for a better world. We started something important today and I am looking forward to what is being set in motion. @narendramodi #JPNadda #MichelleBachelet #2018PMNCHLive #PMNCH #PartnersForum</a>

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The actress recently wrapped up shoot for the third season of 'Quantico'. Reports suggest that the actress is keen on taking up a Bollywood project. Rumours also suggest that Priyanka has given her nod to Ali Abbas Zafar for his next film 'Bharat' opposite Salman Khan but there has not been official confirmation on it from the actress so far.

The actress posted a photo with PM Modi on her Instagram page informing her followers about the meet.

Priyanka Chopra is in India for a brief visit and the actress is making the most of it. On Wednesday, dressed in a white traditional outfit, the actress met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in regards to an upcoming conference of Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH). The actress posted a photo with PM Modi on her Instagram page informing her followers about the meet. She, along with the delegation, including Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and former President of Chile and incoming chair of PMNCH Board Michelle Bachelet, invited the Prime Minister to join the upcoming PMNCH Partners` Forum, to be held in New Delhi on December 12-13. In her post, the actor, who is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, expressed gratitude to PM Modi for meeting them and described the conversation with the Prime Minister as "insightful". "Very grateful to the honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi to meet me, Shri J.P. Nadda (Indian Health Minister) and Mrs. Michelle Bachelet, (former President of Chile, incoming #PMNCH Chair) in regards to being a patron for the Partners` Forum which is being held in New Delhi in December this year. The aim is very important - the improvement and transformation of access to quality healthcare at at every life stage for women, children and adolescents, in an effort to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030," she wrote in her post. "This year, India will play host to the largest ever Partners` Forum, with more than 1,200 delegates from more than 92 countries." It was an insightful, positive conversation which was very heartening and inspiring because of the personal commitment of everyone at the meeting. We covered a lot of ground from the various efforts being taken by individual countries & partners to building a collective environment that could help propel the change we seek for a better world."We started something important today and I am looking forward to what is being set in motion," the post further read. Very grateful to the honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi to meet me, Shri J.P. Nadda (Indian Health Minister) and Mrs. Michelle Bachelet, (former President of Chile, incoming #PMNCH Chair) in regards to being a patron for the Partners' Forum which is being held in New Delhi in December this year. The aim is very important - the improvement and transformation of access to quality healthcare at at every life stage for women, children and adolescents, in an effort to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030. This year, India will play host to the largest ever Partners' Forum, with more than 1,200 delegates from more than 92 countries. It was an insightful, positive conversation which was very heartening and inspiring because of the personal commitment of everyone at the meeting. We covered a lot of ground from the various efforts being taken by individual countries & partners to building a collective environment that could help propel the change we seek for a better world. We started something important today and I am looking forward to what is being set in motion. @narendramodi #JPNadda #MichelleBachelet #2018PMNCHLive #PMNCH #PartnersForum A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Apr 11, 2018 at 10:11am PDT × The actress recently wrapped up shoot for the third season of 'Quantico'. Reports suggest that the actress is keen on taking up a Bollywood project. Rumours also suggest that Priyanka has given her nod to Ali Abbas Zafar for his next film 'Bharat' opposite Salman Khan but there has not been official confirmation on it from the actress so far.

Priyanka Chopra meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi

India saw a sharp decline in child marriages over the last ten years with 27 per cent of girls getting married before their 18th birthday as against 47 per cent a decade ago, the United Nations children&#39;s agency UNICEF said today.

This decline in India has contributed significantly to a global decline in child marriages, Overall, the proportion of girls who were married as children decreased by 15 per cent in the last decade, from 1 in 4 to approximately 1 in 5.

According to a statement issued by the UNICEF, 25 million child marriages were prevented globally in the last 10 years (2005-06 and 2015-16) with the largest reduction seen in South Asia with India being at the forefront.

&quot;South Asia has witnessed the largest decline in child marriages worldwide in the last 10 years, as a girls&#39; risk of marrying before her 18th birthday has dropped by more than a third, from nearly 50 per cent to 30 per cent, in large part due to progress in India,&quot; the UNICEF stated.

The UN children&#39;s agency attributed increasing rates of girls&#39; education, proactive government investments in adolescent girls and strong public awareness about the illegality of child marriage and the harm it causes are among the reasons for the decline.

&quot;When a girl is forced to marry as a child, she faces immediate and lifelong consequences. Her odds of finishing school decrease while her odds of being abused by her husband and suffering complications during pregnancy increase. There are also huge societal consequences and a higher risk of intergenerational cycles of poverty,&quot; said Anju Malhotra, UNICEF&#39;s Principal Gender Advisor.

&quot;Given the life-altering impact child marriage has on a young girl&#39;s life, any reduction is welcome news, but we&#39;ve got a long way to go,&#39;&#39; she said.

&quot;Each and every child marriage prevented gives another girl the chance to fulfill her potential,&quot; said Malhotra.

&#39;&#39;But given the world has pledged to end child marriage by 2030, we&#39;re going to have to collectively redouble efforts to prevent millions of girls from having their childhoods stolen through this devastating practice,&#39;&#39; Sher stressed.

The proportion of girls getting married as children diminished by 15 per cent in the last decade

India saw a sharp decline in child marriages over the last ten years with 27 per cent of girls getting married before their 18th birthday as against 47 per cent a decade ago, the United Nations children's agency UNICEF said today. This decline in India has contributed significantly to a global decline in child marriages, Overall, the proportion of girls who were married as children decreased by 15 per cent in the last decade, from 1 in 4 to approximately 1 in 5. According to a statement issued by the UNICEF, 25 million child marriages were prevented globally in the last 10 years (2005-06 and 2015-16) with the largest reduction seen in South Asia with India being at the forefront. "South Asia has witnessed the largest decline in child marriages worldwide in the last 10 years, as a girls' risk of marrying before her 18th birthday has dropped by more than a third, from nearly 50 per cent to 30 per cent, in large part due to progress in India," the UNICEF stated. The UN children's agency attributed increasing rates of girls' education, proactive government investments in adolescent girls and strong public awareness about the illegality of child marriage and the harm it causes are among the reasons for the decline. "When a girl is forced to marry as a child, she faces immediate and lifelong consequences. Her odds of finishing school decrease while her odds of being abused by her husband and suffering complications during pregnancy increase. There are also huge societal consequences and a higher risk of intergenerational cycles of poverty," said Anju Malhotra, UNICEF's Principal Gender Advisor. "Given the life-altering impact child marriage has on a young girl's life, any reduction is welcome news, but we've got a long way to go,'' she said. "Each and every child marriage prevented gives another girl the chance to fulfill her potential," said Malhotra. ''But given the world has pledged to end child marriage by 2030, we're going to have to collectively redouble efforts to prevent millions of girls from having their childhoods stolen through this devastating practice,'' Sher stressed.

Child marriages declining in India: UNICEF

The United Nations International Children&#39;s Emergency Fund&#39;s (UNICEF) deputy director Justin Forsyth has stepped down, the agency announced in a statement on Thursday.&nbsp;

Forsyth&#39;s resignation came in the wake of looming concerns over his &quot;inappropriate&quot; comments and behaviour. 
&nbsp; 
Save the Children UK said concerns were raised over Forsyth&#39;s inappropriate behaviour towards female staff during his tenure as the CEO between 2011 and 2015. Reviews in cases resulted in &quot;unreserved apologies&quot; to the women involved, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

Reportedly, Forsyth was accused of sending inappropriate texts to Save the Children UK&#39;s female staff. Allegedly, he also made comments on their appearance while heading the charity in 2011 and 2015.

Forsyth, in a statement, has noted that his resignation has nothing to do with the &quot;mistakes&quot; he had made at Save the Children and that he is stepping down owing to the danger of &quot;damaging&quot; the two organisations that he loves and cherishes -- Unicef and Save the Children.&nbsp;

Forsyth's resignation came in the wake of looming concerns over his "inappropriate" comments and behaviour

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund's (UNICEF) deputy director Justin Forsyth has stepped down, the agency announced in a statement on Thursday. Forsyth's resignation came in the wake of looming concerns over his "inappropriate" comments and behaviour. Save the Children UK said concerns were raised over Forsyth's inappropriate behaviour towards female staff during his tenure as the CEO between 2011 and 2015. Reviews in cases resulted in "unreserved apologies" to the women involved, Reuters reported. Reportedly, Forsyth was accused of sending inappropriate texts to Save the Children UK's female staff. Allegedly, he also made comments on their appearance while heading the charity in 2011 and 2015. Forsyth, in a statement, has noted that his resignation has nothing to do with the "mistakes" he had made at Save the Children and that he is stepping down owing to the danger of "damaging" the two organisations that he loves and cherishes -- Unicef and Save the Children.

UNICEF Deputy Director Justin Forsyth steps down

Pakistan is the most dangerous country for a baby to be born in, according to a new Unicef report.

The report on neonatal mortality, released on Tuesday, says global deaths of newborn babies remain alarmingly high, particularly among the world&#39;s poorest countries. While Pakistan tops this list, the other risky countries are Central African Republic and Afghanistan. Babies born in Japan, Iceland and Singapore have the best chance at survival.

India though performs better than Pakistan when it comes to deaths of newborn - it is ranked 12 - it performs poorly in comparison to its other &quot;low-income&quot; neighbours like Sri Lanka, which is at number 52 in the Unicef&#39;s &#39;Every Child Alive&#39; list.

While Pakistan has a newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) of 45.6, India reports 25.4 newborn deaths, one of the highest in the world.

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Pakistan 
Central African Republic 
Afghanistan 
Somalia 
Lesotho 
Guinea-Bissau 
South Sudan 
C&ocirc;te d&#39;Ivoire 
Mali 
Chad 
 
The world&rsquo;s most dangerous countries to be born. But where are the safest? Find out &rarr; <a href="https://t.co/OI7qymfNcm">https://t.co/OI7qymfNcm</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryChildALIVE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryChildALIVE</a> <a href="https://t.co/PtVSpj33p3">pic.twitter.com/PtVSpj33p3</a>
&mdash; UNICEF (@UNICEF) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNICEF/status/965739047078563841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The differences are stark. A baby born in Pakistan faced a one in 22 chance of death, while a newborn in Japan had only a one in 1,111 risk of dying, the report said. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has a newborn mortality rate of 5.3, comparable to some of the high income countries.

&quot;Though infant mortality in the country has declined considerably, the number of newborns dying each year remains unacceptably high. India, with nearly 600,000 newborn deaths each year, accounts for a quarter of the global burden of neonatal deaths,&quot; said Unicef in report.

The report is based on a child&#39;s survival during the neonatal period - first 28 days of life - the most vulnerable time. Children face the highest risk of dying in their first month of life, at a global rate of 19 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Each year, some 2.6 million babies do not survive through their first month.

More than 80 per cent of newborn deaths can be prevented, the report says, &quot;with access to well-trained midwives, along with proven solutions like clean water, disinfectants, breast-feeding within the first hour, skin-to-skin contact and good nutrition.&quot;

But shortages of properly trained health workers and midwives are a major problem in poorer nations.

While a rich country like Norway has 18 doctors, nurses and midwives for every 10,000 people, impoverished Somalia has only one.

&quot;India is currently off-track to meet the SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) target for neonatal mortality of 12 by 2030,&quot; said the report. However, the country has made impressive progress in reduction of under-five mortality and with the current rate of decline &quot;is on track to meet the SDG target for the under-five mortality of 25 per 1000 live births by 2030.&quot;

India registered a reduction of 66 per cent in under-five deaths during 1990 to 2015, nearly meeting its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target. In comparison, the decline in under-five mortality for the world was 55 per cent.

The recent progress is even better, with 120,000 fewer deaths in 2016 as compared to 2015. The number of annual under-five deaths in India has gone below one million for the first time in 2016, said the agency.

The report is based on a child's survival during the neonatal period - first 28 days of life - the most vulnerable time.

Pakistan is the most dangerous country for a baby to be born in, according to a new Unicef report. The report on neonatal mortality, released on Tuesday, says global deaths of newborn babies remain alarmingly high, particularly among the world's poorest countries. While Pakistan tops this list, the other risky countries are Central African Republic and Afghanistan. Babies born in Japan, Iceland and Singapore have the best chance at survival. India though performs better than Pakistan when it comes to deaths of newborn - it is ranked 12 - it performs poorly in comparison to its other "low-income" neighbours like Sri Lanka, which is at number 52 in the Unicef's 'Every Child Alive' list. While Pakistan has a newborn mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) of 45.6, India reports 25.4 newborn deaths, one of the highest in the world. Pakistan Central African Republic Afghanistan Somalia Lesotho Guinea-Bissau South Sudan Côte d'Ivoire Mali Chad The world’s most dangerous countries to be born. But where are the safest? Find out → https://t.co/OI7qymfNcm#EveryChildALIVE pic.twitter.com/PtVSpj33p3 — UNICEF (@UNICEF) February 20, 2018 × The differences are stark. A baby born in Pakistan faced a one in 22 chance of death, while a newborn in Japan had only a one in 1,111 risk of dying, the report said. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has a newborn mortality rate of 5.3, comparable to some of the high income countries. "Though infant mortality in the country has declined considerably, the number of newborns dying each year remains unacceptably high. India, with nearly 600,000 newborn deaths each year, accounts for a quarter of the global burden of neonatal deaths," said Unicef in report. The report is based on a child's survival during the neonatal period - first 28 days of life - the most vulnerable time. Children face the highest risk of dying in their first month of life, at a global rate of 19 deaths per 1,000 live births. Each year, some 2.6 million babies do not survive through their first month. More than 80 per cent of newborn deaths can be prevented, the report says, "with access to well-trained midwives, along with proven solutions like clean water, disinfectants, breast-feeding within the first hour, skin-to-skin contact and good nutrition." But shortages of properly trained health workers and midwives are a major problem in poorer nations. While a rich country like Norway has 18 doctors, nurses and midwives for every 10,000 people, impoverished Somalia has only one. "India is currently off-track to meet the SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) target for neonatal mortality of 12 by 2030," said the report. However, the country has made impressive progress in reduction of under-five mortality and with the current rate of decline "is on track to meet the SDG target for the under-five mortality of 25 per 1000 live births by 2030." India registered a reduction of 66 per cent in under-five deaths during 1990 to 2015, nearly meeting its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target. In comparison, the decline in under-five mortality for the world was 55 per cent. The recent progress is even better, with 120,000 fewer deaths in 2016 as compared to 2015. The number of annual under-five deaths in India has gone below one million for the first time in 2016, said the agency.

Unicef report says Pakistan riskiest country for a baby to be born in, India at number 12

The war in Yemen has killed or injured more than 5,000 children and left another 400,000 severely malnourished and fighting for their lives, the UN children`s agency said on Tuesday.

In a report unveiled in Sanaa, UNICEF said nearly two million Yemeni children were out of school, a quarter of them since the conflict escalated when a Saudi-led coalition intervened in March 2015.

More than three million children were born into the war, it said, adding they had been &quot;scarred by years of violence, displacement, disease, poverty, undernutrition and a lack of access to basic services&quot;.

UNICEF said the more than 5,000 children killed or injured in the violence amounted to &quot;an average of five children every day since March 2015&quot;.

&quot;An entire generation of children in Yemen is growing up knowing nothing but violence,&quot; said Meritxell Relano, UNICEF representative in Yemen.

&quot;Children in Yemen are suffering the devastating consequences of a war that is not of their making,&quot; he said in a statement.

&quot;Malnutrition and disease are rampant as basic services collapse,&quot; he said, adding: &quot;Those who survive are likely to carry the physical and psychological scars of conflict for the rest of their lives.&quot;

The UN agency said more than 11 million children -- or &quot;nearly every child in Yemen&quot; -- was now in need of humanitarian assistance.

It called for an end to the bloodshed and the protection of children, as well as sustainable and unconditional access to deliver assistance to every child in need.

The war has killed 9,245 people since Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies joined the government`s fight against Iran-backed Huthi rebels, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

It triggered what the United Nations has called the world`s worst humanitarian crisis.

More than 2,200 people have died as a result of a cholera epidemic that has hit the country since April, according to the WHO. 
&nbsp;

UNICEF said the war has left another 400,000 severely malnourished and fighting for their lives

The war in Yemen has killed or injured more than 5,000 children and left another 400,000 severely malnourished and fighting for their lives, the UN children`s agency said on Tuesday. In a report unveiled in Sanaa, UNICEF said nearly two million Yemeni children were out of school, a quarter of them since the conflict escalated when a Saudi-led coalition intervened in March 2015. More than three million children were born into the war, it said, adding they had been "scarred by years of violence, displacement, disease, poverty, undernutrition and a lack of access to basic services". UNICEF said the more than 5,000 children killed or injured in the violence amounted to "an average of five children every day since March 2015". "An entire generation of children in Yemen is growing up knowing nothing but violence," said Meritxell Relano, UNICEF representative in Yemen. "Children in Yemen are suffering the devastating consequences of a war that is not of their making," he said in a statement. "Malnutrition and disease are rampant as basic services collapse," he said, adding: "Those who survive are likely to carry the physical and psychological scars of conflict for the rest of their lives." The UN agency said more than 11 million children -- or "nearly every child in Yemen" -- was now in need of humanitarian assistance. It called for an end to the bloodshed and the protection of children, as well as sustainable and unconditional access to deliver assistance to every child in need. The war has killed 9,245 people since Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies joined the government`s fight against Iran-backed Huthi rebels, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It triggered what the United Nations has called the world`s worst humanitarian crisis. More than 2,200 people have died as a result of a cholera epidemic that has hit the country since April, according to the WHO.

5,000 children killed or injured in Yemen war: United Nations

Barely 15 days old, Kinza whimpers at an Islamabad hospital where she is suffering from diarrhoea and a blood infection, a tiny victim among thousands afflicted by Pakistan`s severely polluted and decreasing water supplies.

Cloaked in a colourful blanket, Kinza moves in slow motion, like a small doll. Her mother, Sartaj, does not understand how her daughter became so ill.

&quot;Each time I give her the bottle, I boil the water,&quot; she tells AFP.&nbsp;

But Sartaj and her family drink daily from a stream in their Islamabad neighbourhood -- one of several waterways running through the capital that are choked with filth. Boiling the water can only do so much.

They are not alone. More than two-thirds of households drink bacterially contaminated water and, every year, 53,000 Pakistani children die of diarrhoea after drinking it, says UNICEF.&nbsp;

Cases of typhoid, cholera, dysentery and hepatitis are rampant. According to the UN and Pakistani authorities, between 30 and 40 percent of diseases and deaths nationwide are linked to poor water quality.

And it is costing the developing country billions. In 2012 the World Bank, which has warned that &quot;substantial investments are needed to improve sanitation&quot;, estimated that water pollution costs Pakistan $5.7 billion, or nearly four percent of GDP.

&quot;Water is the number one problem for the country,&quot; says professor Javed Akram, vice chancellor at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad.&nbsp;

In Lahore, Pakistan&#39;s second largest city, the situation is even worse than in Islamabad.

The Ravi River which supplies the city&#39;s 11 million or so inhabitants with drinking water also serves as a spillway to hundreds of factories upstream.

River fish are eaten by locals, but &quot;some papers show that in the fishbones, some heavy metal contamination (is) found,&quot; says Sohail Ali Naqvi, a project officer with the conservation group WWF.

The Ravi is also used to irrigate neighbouring crops, which are themselves rich in pesticides, warns Lahore environmentalist Ahmad Rafay Alam. The lack of water infrastructure is glaring. In a country where the &quot;environment is not part of the political agenda&quot;, there are &quot;nearly no treatment plants&quot;, warns Imran Khalid, a researcher at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute.

&quot;Those who can afford it buy bottles of water, but what about those who cannot?&quot; he says.

In Karachi, a megacity whose population could be as many as 20 million people, mafias fill the vacuum left by the creaking local network, selling the precious water they bring in by tanker trucks at high prices.&nbsp;

In the face of widespread indignation, Sindh along with Punjab province, together home to more than half of the country&#39;s population, have already announced measures to improve water quality, though their efficacy is yet to be seen.

But Pakistan&#39;s water is not only contaminated -- it is becoming scarce.&nbsp;

Official projections show the country, whose population has increased fivefold since 1960 to some 207 million, will run dry by 2025, when they will be facing an &quot;absolute scarcity&quot; of water with less than 500 cubic metres available per person in Pakistan.&nbsp;

That&#39;s just one third the water available in already parched Somalia now, according to the UN.Pakistan, a country of massive Himalayan glaciers, monsoon rains and floods, has just three major water storage basins, compared with more than a thousand in South Africa or Canada, says Bashir Ahmad of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council.

As such any surplus is quickly lost, said Ahmad, who denounced &quot;a lack of political vision&quot; to counter the nationwide water crisis.&nbsp;

While official statistics show that 90 percent of the country&#39;s water is used for agriculture, the massive irrigation network, built decades ago by British colonists, has deteriorated.&nbsp;

Much of its use appears to defy common sense. &quot;We are neglecting the northern areas, where there (is) a lot of rainfall, to focus on irrigated areas like Sindh or Punjab,&quot; says Ahmad.

There, in arid areas where temperatures can soar up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), Pakistan grows water-intensive crops such as rice and sugar cane.

&quot;The crisis is looming. In all urban areas, the water table is going down day by day,&quot; warns Muhammad Ashraf, chairman of the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources.

Pumps draw deeper and deeper into the water table, where the arsenic content is naturally higher, he warns. An international study in August said some 50 to 60 million Pakistanis are slowly poisoning themselves with arsenic-tainted water.

Yet waste remains the norm. In Islamabad, roads are sprinkled to drive away dust, cars are washed daily, and verdant lawns watered generously.

&quot;We own our houses, but not our streams,&quot; Ashraf sighs. &quot;That`s why we dump our waste in the rivers.&quot;

More than two-thirds of households drink bacterially contaminated water

Barely 15 days old, Kinza whimpers at an Islamabad hospital where she is suffering from diarrhoea and a blood infection, a tiny victim among thousands afflicted by Pakistan`s severely polluted and decreasing water supplies. Cloaked in a colourful blanket, Kinza moves in slow motion, like a small doll. Her mother, Sartaj, does not understand how her daughter became so ill. "Each time I give her the bottle, I boil the water," she tells AFP. But Sartaj and her family drink daily from a stream in their Islamabad neighbourhood -- one of several waterways running through the capital that are choked with filth. Boiling the water can only do so much. They are not alone. More than two-thirds of households drink bacterially contaminated water and, every year, 53,000 Pakistani children die of diarrhoea after drinking it, says UNICEF. Cases of typhoid, cholera, dysentery and hepatitis are rampant. According to the UN and Pakistani authorities, between 30 and 40 percent of diseases and deaths nationwide are linked to poor water quality. And it is costing the developing country billions. In 2012 the World Bank, which has warned that "substantial investments are needed to improve sanitation", estimated that water pollution costs Pakistan $5.7 billion, or nearly four percent of GDP. "Water is the number one problem for the country," says professor Javed Akram, vice chancellor at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad. In Lahore, Pakistan's second largest city, the situation is even worse than in Islamabad. The Ravi River which supplies the city's 11 million or so inhabitants with drinking water also serves as a spillway to hundreds of factories upstream. River fish are eaten by locals, but "some papers show that in the fishbones, some heavy metal contamination (is) found," says Sohail Ali Naqvi, a project officer with the conservation group WWF. The Ravi is also used to irrigate neighbouring crops, which are themselves rich in pesticides, warns Lahore environmentalist Ahmad Rafay Alam. The lack of water infrastructure is glaring. In a country where the "environment is not part of the political agenda", there are "nearly no treatment plants", warns Imran Khalid, a researcher at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute. "Those who can afford it buy bottles of water, but what about those who cannot?" he says. In Karachi, a megacity whose population could be as many as 20 million people, mafias fill the vacuum left by the creaking local network, selling the precious water they bring in by tanker trucks at high prices. In the face of widespread indignation, Sindh along with Punjab province, together home to more than half of the country's population, have already announced measures to improve water quality, though their efficacy is yet to be seen. But Pakistan's water is not only contaminated -- it is becoming scarce. Official projections show the country, whose population has increased fivefold since 1960 to some 207 million, will run dry by 2025, when they will be facing an "absolute scarcity" of water with less than 500 cubic metres available per person in Pakistan. That's just one third the water available in already parched Somalia now, according to the UN.Pakistan, a country of massive Himalayan glaciers, monsoon rains and floods, has just three major water storage basins, compared with more than a thousand in South Africa or Canada, says Bashir Ahmad of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council. As such any surplus is quickly lost, said Ahmad, who denounced "a lack of political vision" to counter the nationwide water crisis. While official statistics show that 90 percent of the country's water is used for agriculture, the massive irrigation network, built decades ago by British colonists, has deteriorated. Much of its use appears to defy common sense. "We are neglecting the northern areas, where there (is) a lot of rainfall, to focus on irrigated areas like Sindh or Punjab," says Ahmad. There, in arid areas where temperatures can soar up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), Pakistan grows water-intensive crops such as rice and sugar cane. "The crisis is looming. In all urban areas, the water table is going down day by day," warns Muhammad Ashraf, chairman of the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources. Pumps draw deeper and deeper into the water table, where the arsenic content is naturally higher, he warns. An international study in August said some 50 to 60 million Pakistanis are slowly poisoning themselves with arsenic-tainted water. Yet waste remains the norm. In Islamabad, roads are sprinkled to drive away dust, cars are washed daily, and verdant lawns watered generously. "We own our houses, but not our streams," Ashraf sighs. "That`s why we dump our waste in the rivers."

Poisonous and running out: Pakistan's water crisis

The recently published UNICEF press release emphasises the debilitating effects of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/topic/air-pollution#" target="_blank">air pollution</a> on human health. The official release opens by stating that &quot;17 million babies under the age of 1 breathe toxic air, the majority -- 12 million -- live in South Asia&quot;. &quot;UNICEF urges immediate action to reduce air pollution amid emerging evidence on how toxic air can affect brain development in young children,&quot; the release notes. The paper further explains how air pollution can harm kids exposing them to health hazards like cognitive impairment, brain-tissue damage among others.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Not only do pollutants harm babies&rsquo; developing lungs &ndash; they can permanently damage their developing brains &ndash; and, thus, their futures,&rdquo; said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. &nbsp;&ldquo;Protecting children from air pollution, not only benefits children. It also benefits their societies &ndash; realized in reduced health care costs, increased productivity and a safer, cleaner environment for everyone,&rdquo; Lake added.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bkp9k9F4aE8" width="560"></iframe>

South Asia is home to the largest number of babies -- 12.2 million -- living in the worst-affected areas where outdoor air pollution exceeds six times international limits set by the World Health Organization. The East Asia and Pacific region, on the other hand, has 4.3 million babies living in areas that exceed six times the standard pollution limit.

The UNICEF release highlighted the significance of clean air stating it as an equally important factor in a child&#39;s overall development as proper nutrition, &quot;air pollution, like inadequate nutrition and stimulation, and exposure to violence is critical during the first 1,000 days of life, and can impact children&rsquo;s early childhood development by affecting their growing brains,&quot; noted the release.&nbsp;

With a series of reports emerging and establishing India&#39;s <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhis-air-quality-back-to-hazardous-poor-especially-during-morning-hours-25511" target="_blank">capital city as one of the highly polluted in the world</a>, residents living here seem to get no respite from the worsening air quality. At the time of writing this story, air quality at various areas in the city swung between &#39;severe&#39; and &#39;hazardous&#39;.&nbsp;

The UNICEF release highlighted the significance of clean air stating it as an equally important factor in a child's overall development

The recently published UNICEF press release emphasises the debilitating effects of air pollution on human health. The official release opens by stating that "17 million babies under the age of 1 breathe toxic air, the majority -- 12 million -- live in South Asia". "UNICEF urges immediate action to reduce air pollution amid emerging evidence on how toxic air can affect brain development in young children," the release notes. The paper further explains how air pollution can harm kids exposing them to health hazards like cognitive impairment, brain-tissue damage among others. “Not only do pollutants harm babies’ developing lungs – they can permanently damage their developing brains – and, thus, their futures,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “Protecting children from air pollution, not only benefits children. It also benefits their societies – realized in reduced health care costs, increased productivity and a safer, cleaner environment for everyone,” Lake added. South Asia is home to the largest number of babies -- 12.2 million -- living in the worst-affected areas where outdoor air pollution exceeds six times international limits set by the World Health Organization. The East Asia and Pacific region, on the other hand, has 4.3 million babies living in areas that exceed six times the standard pollution limit. The UNICEF release highlighted the significance of clean air stating it as an equally important factor in a child's overall development as proper nutrition, "air pollution, like inadequate nutrition and stimulation, and exposure to violence is critical during the first 1,000 days of life, and can impact children’s early childhood development by affecting their growing brains," noted the release. With a series of reports emerging and establishing India's capital city as one of the highly polluted in the world, residents living here seem to get no respite from the worsening air quality. At the time of writing this story, air quality at various areas in the city swung between 'severe' and 'hazardous'.

Parents, take note! Air pollution may permanently damage your kid's brain, says UNICEF

Almost half of all girls in South Asia marry before the age of 18, says UNICEF. One in five girls is married before the age of 15. Bangladesh is the worst offenders in this regard followed by India. Child marriages are most prevalent in rural India, with rates of child marriage being the highest in the central and western parts of India and lower in the eastern and southern parts of the country.&nbsp;

While these facts and figures, as a journalist, are not unknown to me, to meet a child bride is a different experience. Discomforting and unnerving too. In a book release ceremony recently organised by HAQ, I came face to face dozen of child brides-most of whom are married but have not met their groom or the in-laws yet. Many of them pointed out to me that they didn&#39;t even remember the face of their husband not to mention the marriage ceremony.&nbsp;

I have, as the UNICEF does too, always associated the menace of child marriage with the restraints poverty places on an individual family. Recently, the Guardian even carried a report as to how an increasing number of African girl children are getting married off because of climate change, such as drought and flood, crop loss and stunted growth. Thus Africa witnesses a social evil because a drastic environmental change is taking an economic toll on their lives.

But poverty is not always the stimulus behind child marriage. As was pointed out to me in so many words by Ayesha. Ayesha comes from a village of Murshidabad. Not necessarily a child of a poor father, Ayesha&#39;s family tried to give her off in marriage as per the cultural norms of her community. She repeatedly blames societal norms for the trauma she underwent as a child. From the tender age of 3 months, her father tried to get her married off at least dozen times before she entered her teens.

The only silver lining of her story is that all these hardships hardened her resolve to complete her education. She is the only girl from her village who has successfully completed a Masters degree in science. Now Ayesha devotes her time in fighting the curse of child marriage which she claims is still ubiquitous in the villages of Murshidabad.&nbsp;

Jaya is another woman who went through the ordeal of getting married at the age of 13. Hailing from a village in Rajasthan, Jaya went through the terrible pain of getting beaten by her in-laws and even her husband. Her voice of protest was stifled and met with further harassment. But Jaya did not give up. Now she is a well-known activist who plays a pivotal role in organising the women against the menace of child marriages. She does not depend on the government or anyone else for her crusade. She has fought for the education of her of own two girls who are now principals of local schools.&nbsp;

If these two grown-ups tell us the stories of the lives that have, fortunately, taken a favourable turn over time, though it has exacted a very stiff price in the course, there are many other young girls who still stare at an unknown future.&nbsp;

One such fighter is young Zeba. She hails from Rajasthan too. She was given to marriage at the age of 3. Now a student of class XI and already a child rights activist, Zeba asked her mother the reason behind such an act. Her mother&#39;s answer was that the family did not have money to marry off all her sisters separately. So her eldest sister who was 16 at that time and Zeba at 3, all were married off together in a pack. Zeba has not met her husband yet. Her parents constantly threaten that at the completion of Class XI, Zeba will be sent to her husband.&nbsp;

But Zeba does not want to go. She wants to complete her education and be a teacher someday.&nbsp;

Jaba&#39;s story is little different from that of Zeba other than they belong to different religious communities. Jaba&#39;s mother wanted her to be married after the death of her father. Jaba did not, however, elaborate whether such a decision was prompted by reasons of poverty or only a sense of insecurity. My hunch is the death of the male guardian of the family created a sense of terrible insecurity and the mother felt pressurised to give her off in marriage. &nbsp;

Daughters are after all prescribed by Shastraic injunctions to spend the childhood under the tutelage of the father, the adulthood under a husband and old age under the care of the son(s). This care ethics unknowingly breed a sense of dependence and, perhaps more dangerously, a sense of ownership over women. Jaba is a classic example of what misfortune can befall a girl child once she loses the male guardian in her life.&nbsp;

When I asked the organisers as the what prompted them to take up the cudgel against child marriage among all other social evils. Indrani Pancholi pointed out to me that they wanted to locate voices of dissent among sufferers themselves. They wanted the resistance to come from the girls who are suffering because they will be the ones who can best point out what they want.&nbsp;

This brings us back to Jaya who pointed out at the end of the interview to us how her village is witnessing changes that are not grafted from outside but organically efflorescing, courtesy the initiatives of women like her. For instance, Jaya pointed out, women would cover their heads and faces in the past, but they don&#39;t do it anymore.&nbsp;

It did not require a French political system type of ban to prevent women from covering their faces, it came most spontaneously from a sense of empowerment.&nbsp;

Let us hope that this force of social change, emanating from the ground will change the gender dynamics in India not so far in the future.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Social custom is as much to be blamed as poverty for the perpetuation of child marriage in India.

Almost half of all girls in South Asia marry before the age of 18, says UNICEF. One in five girls is married before the age of 15. Bangladesh is the worst offenders in this regard followed by India. Child marriages are most prevalent in rural India, with rates of child marriage being the highest in the central and western parts of India and lower in the eastern and southern parts of the country. While these facts and figures, as a journalist, are not unknown to me, to meet a child bride is a different experience. Discomforting and unnerving too. In a book release ceremony recently organised by HAQ, I came face to face dozen of child brides-most of whom are married but have not met their groom or the in-laws yet. Many of them pointed out to me that they didn't even remember the face of their husband not to mention the marriage ceremony. I have, as the UNICEF does too, always associated the menace of child marriage with the restraints poverty places on an individual family. Recently, the Guardian even carried a report as to how an increasing number of African girl children are getting married off because of climate change, such as drought and flood, crop loss and stunted growth. Thus Africa witnesses a social evil because a drastic environmental change is taking an economic toll on their lives. But poverty is not always the stimulus behind child marriage. As was pointed out to me in so many words by Ayesha. Ayesha comes from a village of Murshidabad. Not necessarily a child of a poor father, Ayesha's family tried to give her off in marriage as per the cultural norms of her community. She repeatedly blames societal norms for the trauma she underwent as a child. From the tender age of 3 months, her father tried to get her married off at least dozen times before she entered her teens. The only silver lining of her story is that all these hardships hardened her resolve to complete her education. She is the only girl from her village who has successfully completed a Masters degree in science. Now Ayesha devotes her time in fighting the curse of child marriage which she claims is still ubiquitous in the villages of Murshidabad. Jaya is another woman who went through the ordeal of getting married at the age of 13. Hailing from a village in Rajasthan, Jaya went through the terrible pain of getting beaten by her in-laws and even her husband. Her voice of protest was stifled and met with further harassment. But Jaya did not give up. Now she is a well-known activist who plays a pivotal role in organising the women against the menace of child marriages. She does not depend on the government or anyone else for her crusade. She has fought for the education of her of own two girls who are now principals of local schools. If these two grown-ups tell us the stories of the lives that have, fortunately, taken a favourable turn over time, though it has exacted a very stiff price in the course, there are many other young girls who still stare at an unknown future. One such fighter is young Zeba. She hails from Rajasthan too. She was given to marriage at the age of 3. Now a student of class XI and already a child rights activist, Zeba asked her mother the reason behind such an act. Her mother's answer was that the family did not have money to marry off all her sisters separately. So her eldest sister who was 16 at that time and Zeba at 3, all were married off together in a pack. Zeba has not met her husband yet. Her parents constantly threaten that at the completion of Class XI, Zeba will be sent to her husband. But Zeba does not want to go. She wants to complete her education and be a teacher someday. Jaba's story is little different from that of Zeba other than they belong to different religious communities. Jaba's mother wanted her to be married after the death of her father. Jaba did not, however, elaborate whether such a decision was prompted by reasons of poverty or only a sense of insecurity. My hunch is the death of the male guardian of the family created a sense of terrible insecurity and the mother felt pressurised to give her off in marriage. Daughters are after all prescribed by Shastraic injunctions to spend the childhood under the tutelage of the father, the adulthood under a husband and old age under the care of the son(s). This care ethics unknowingly breed a sense of dependence and, perhaps more dangerously, a sense of ownership over women. Jaba is a classic example of what misfortune can befall a girl child once she loses the male guardian in her life. When I asked the organisers as the what prompted them to take up the cudgel against child marriage among all other social evils. Indrani Pancholi pointed out to me that they wanted to locate voices of dissent among sufferers themselves. They wanted the resistance to come from the girls who are suffering because they will be the ones who can best point out what they want. This brings us back to Jaya who pointed out at the end of the interview to us how her village is witnessing changes that are not grafted from outside but organically efflorescing, courtesy the initiatives of women like her. For instance, Jaya pointed out, women would cover their heads and faces in the past, but they don't do it anymore. It did not require a French political system type of ban to prevent women from covering their faces, it came most spontaneously from a sense of empowerment. Let us hope that this force of social change, emanating from the ground will change the gender dynamics in India not so far in the future. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: A child needs parents, not a husband

Within hours of arriving in Lucknow, I took off on a scooter with a colleague to a nearby slum area. We were going into the field. Upon arriving at the session site, the kids were called and the facilitator introduced the session. Then the children, in unison, asked &ldquo;Bhaiyya, may we please know your name?&rdquo; &ldquo;My name is Jackson,&rdquo; I replied Urdu. This is going well so far, I thought to myself. I understood today&rsquo;s activity would be football (soccer) and that there would be two groups for the drills.

From there, however, the session seemed to become controlled chaos. Kids ran everywhere, doing drills and kicking the balls in all directions. This continued for almost the entire hour, until we regrouped and discussed how the drills went. The session I observed, a part of Project KHEL&rsquo;s Made in Maidaan life skills-education program for kids aged 7-16, was a jarring and enlightening experience all at once. It was the first of almost 30 sessions I would observe or help facilitate over the next two weeks.

While Project KHEL has other programs, ranging from Ultimate Frisbee to activity-based literacy programs, our main program utilises a Sports For Development method to deliver a self-designed Life Skills Education program for the benefit of underprivileged youth in Lucknow through sessions, hour-long &ldquo;classes&rdquo; delivered twice per week [1]. Life skills are defined as psychosocial abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life [2].

Sports for Development programs and Life Skills Education programs are both widely popular both in India and globally as development methods. Their use also has significant institutional backing, as the United Nations see sport as a crucial method by which to achieve the newest Sustainable Development Goals [3], while the concept of Life Skills Education is itself a product of the World Health Organisation [4]. However, Project KHEL&rsquo;s combination of these philosophies is unique because of the way that sports and games are vehicles to teach life skills.

Rather than discussing life skills and drawing out messages through, Project KHEL has kids playing, working together, and experiencing these life skills as they learn and understand them. Each session has a specific plan of activities aimed at achieving a life skills-oriented outcome through a mix of sports and games.

Despite summers of experience as a summer camp counsellor during high school and college, it was the concept of fieldwork which worried me most about coming to Lucknow to begin work with Project KHEL. At Project KHEL, fieldwork involves working directly with these children, facilitating sessions of sports, games and activities to teach life skills. What if I don&rsquo;t understand their Hindi, or if they don&rsquo;t understand me? What if I don&rsquo;t have the presence to be a facilitator?

I collided with all these concerns in my very first session, meeting fifty children and learning the ropes as the session happened. I spent the entire hour trying to figure out what was happening around me and to understand what the other facilitators and all the children, everyone except me, seemed to understand. By the end of the session, I had realised how the games had been played, what lessons facilitators aimed to draw from them, and what facilitators needed to pay most attention to during the session. Like many things at Project KHEL, learning through participation is the best way to understand both the work itself but also the motivations and intentions of every choice made regarding sessions.

The nature of Project KHEL&rsquo;s programming requires staff to be actively in the field almost every day in some capacity, Being in the field has been an eye-opening experience, as well as a complicated one. Witnessing Project KHEL&rsquo;s programs firsthand, seeing the activities, getting to know the children, understanding the planning process for each session, figuring out how to manage large groups of children, dealing within-session complications like sudden rain or injuries, making sure to deliver effective and meaningful briefings and debriefings for children and staff, all of this is necessary to fully understand both the programs and mission of Project KHEL.

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The Project KHEL team celebrates Diwali (Others)
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Relying on extensive communication and feedback to critique their own work and methods, I have been deeply impressed by their commitment to self-reflection and taking meaningful action based on this. It is this systematic commitment to organisational improvement that made it so easy to share the passion that all of the staff brings to each and every session and every project.

Everyone in the office has helped me feel at home, and our guiding principle, putting our kids first always, is a unifying idea that I connected to immediately. Sharing this is something I have drawn strength from while working in the field.

Six weeks in, I love facilitating sessions. I still make mistakes, all the time in fact, but my colleagues will always help me to do better, knowing that improvement is the aim. Having now facilitated or observed almost 50 sessions across Project KHEL&rsquo;s seven programs, fieldwork has become the highlight of each and every day, and knowing that I have my colleagues and a child-centred methodology for monitoring and evaluation behind me means that no mistake will be in vain.

This is what the kids do as well &ndash; they learn from each others&rsquo; successes and shortcomings as they play collectively. In that sense, a commitment to collective learning could be the unifying principle of Project KHEL&rsquo;s mission.

[1] &ldquo;Made in Maidaan.&rdquo; Project KHEL. 2017. 
[2] &ldquo;Definition of Terms.&rdquo; UNICEF. June 13, 2003. 
[3] &ldquo;Sport and Sustainable Development Goals.&rdquo; United Nations Office of Sport and Development. 2014. 
[4] Partners in Life Skills Education. Report. Geneva: World Health Organisation, 1999.

This <a href="http://aif.org/the-process-of-collective-learning/">article </a>was originally published on 07/11/ 2017 on <a href="http://aif.org/">American India Foundation</a>

'A commitment to collective learning could be the unifying principle of Project KHEL?s mission'

Within hours of arriving in Lucknow, I took off on a scooter with a colleague to a nearby slum area. We were going into the field. Upon arriving at the session site, the kids were called and the facilitator introduced the session. Then the children, in unison, asked “Bhaiyya, may we please know your name?” “My name is Jackson,” I replied Urdu. This is going well so far, I thought to myself. I understood today’s activity would be football (soccer) and that there would be two groups for the drills. From there, however, the session seemed to become controlled chaos. Kids ran everywhere, doing drills and kicking the balls in all directions. This continued for almost the entire hour, until we regrouped and discussed how the drills went. The session I observed, a part of Project KHEL’s Made in Maidaan life skills-education program for kids aged 7-16, was a jarring and enlightening experience all at once. It was the first of almost 30 sessions I would observe or help facilitate over the next two weeks. While Project KHEL has other programs, ranging from Ultimate Frisbee to activity-based literacy programs, our main program utilises a Sports For Development method to deliver a self-designed Life Skills Education program for the benefit of underprivileged youth in Lucknow through sessions, hour-long “classes” delivered twice per week [1]. Life skills are defined as psychosocial abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life [2]. Sports for Development programs and Life Skills Education programs are both widely popular both in India and globally as development methods. Their use also has significant institutional backing, as the United Nations see sport as a crucial method by which to achieve the newest Sustainable Development Goals [3], while the concept of Life Skills Education is itself a product of the World Health Organisation [4]. However, Project KHEL’s combination of these philosophies is unique because of the way that sports and games are vehicles to teach life skills. Rather than discussing life skills and drawing out messages through, Project KHEL has kids playing, working together, and experiencing these life skills as they learn and understand them. Each session has a specific plan of activities aimed at achieving a life skills-oriented outcome through a mix of sports and games. Despite summers of experience as a summer camp counsellor during high school and college, it was the concept of fieldwork which worried me most about coming to Lucknow to begin work with Project KHEL. At Project KHEL, fieldwork involves working directly with these children, facilitating sessions of sports, games and activities to teach life skills. What if I don’t understand their Hindi, or if they don’t understand me? What if I don’t have the presence to be a facilitator? I collided with all these concerns in my very first session, meeting fifty children and learning the ropes as the session happened. I spent the entire hour trying to figure out what was happening around me and to understand what the other facilitators and all the children, everyone except me, seemed to understand. By the end of the session, I had realised how the games had been played, what lessons facilitators aimed to draw from them, and what facilitators needed to pay most attention to during the session. Like many things at Project KHEL, learning through participation is the best way to understand both the work itself but also the motivations and intentions of every choice made regarding sessions. The nature of Project KHEL’s programming requires staff to be actively in the field almost every day in some capacity, Being in the field has been an eye-opening experience, as well as a complicated one. Witnessing Project KHEL’s programs firsthand, seeing the activities, getting to know the children, understanding the planning process for each session, figuring out how to manage large groups of children, dealing within-session complications like sudden rain or injuries, making sure to deliver effective and meaningful briefings and debriefings for children and staff, all of this is necessary to fully understand both the programs and mission of Project KHEL. The Project KHEL team celebrates Diwali (Others) × Relying on extensive communication and feedback to critique their own work and methods, I have been deeply impressed by their commitment to self-reflection and taking meaningful action based on this. It is this systematic commitment to organisational improvement that made it so easy to share the passion that all of the staff brings to each and every session and every project. Everyone in the office has helped me feel at home, and our guiding principle, putting our kids first always, is a unifying idea that I connected to immediately. Sharing this is something I have drawn strength from while working in the field. Six weeks in, I love facilitating sessions. I still make mistakes, all the time in fact, but my colleagues will always help me to do better, knowing that improvement is the aim. Having now facilitated or observed almost 50 sessions across Project KHEL’s seven programs, fieldwork has become the highlight of each and every day, and knowing that I have my colleagues and a child-centred methodology for monitoring and evaluation behind me means that no mistake will be in vain. This is what the kids do as well – they learn from each others’ successes and shortcomings as they play collectively. In that sense, a commitment to collective learning could be the unifying principle of Project KHEL’s mission. [1] “Made in Maidaan.” Project KHEL. 2017. [2] “Definition of Terms.” UNICEF. June 13, 2003. [3] “Sport and Sustainable Development Goals.” United Nations Office of Sport and Development. 2014. [4] Partners in Life Skills Education. Report. Geneva: World Health Organisation, 1999. This article was originally published on 07/11/ 2017 on American India Foundation

The process of collective learning

Imagine the populations of the US, Brazil and Russia all lined up one after the other. That is approximately the number of poor children there are in the world &ndash; which stands at 689 million across 103 countries, according to a new <a href="http://www.ophi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Brief_46_Child_MPI_2017-1.pdf">report</a> published by my colleagues at the <a href="http://www.ophi.org.uk">Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI)</a>.

Even more frustrating is that children, who represent 34 per cent&nbsp;of the population in these countries, constitute half of the world&rsquo;s poor and have a higher rate of poverty than adults. This is a call for action that poses a huge challenge to the accomplishment of goal number one of the UN&rsquo;s <a href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300">sustainable development goals</a> (SDGs): ending poverty in all its forms and dimensions.

As the UN <a href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf">High Level Political Forum</a> meets on July 10 to discuss poverty eradication and track progress on the SDGs, the international community at large must take swift action to address this issue.

The OPHI report used the <a href="http://www.ophi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/OPHIMethNote_44_Summer_2017.pdf">Global Multidimensional Poverty Index</a>, first introduced in 2010, which comprises a series of measures that assess deprivations in health, education and living standards to find out how many children are what are called &ldquo;multidimensionally poor&rdquo;. When looking at populations across 103 low and middle-income countries for which data is available, the research team found that children represent 48 per cent&nbsp;of the multidimensional poor &ndash; and account for two out of every five children in these countries.

Some 87 per cent&nbsp;of the 689 million&nbsp;are growing up in South Asia and in Sub-Saharan Africa &ndash; around 300 million in each region. In Ethiopia, Niger and South Sudan more than 90 per cent&nbsp;of all children are multidimensionally poor. The report also found that younger children, from birth to the age of nine, are the poorest according to the index &ndash; meaning more action is needed to improve nutrition and education in early stages of life.

More than just income

There are diverse and complementary ways of measuring poverty and, often, one measure alone does not provide the full picture. The numbers living in poverty can be different too.

In 2016, a <a href="https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/Ending_Extreme_Poverty_A_Focus_on_Children_Oct_2016.pdf">joint report of the World Bank and UNICEF</a> found that, globally, 385 million children were living on less than $1.90 a day (&pound;1.46) per person. But using a different series of measures the <a href="http://www.ophi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/B47_Global_MPI_2017.pdf">Global Multidimensional Poverty Index</a> found that the number of poor children rises to 689m.

Why this difference? The <a href="http://www.ophi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/OPHIMethNote_44_Summer_2017.pdf">Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)</a> draws attention to indicators that go beyond just income. It assesses a range of deprivations across health, education and living standards using ten indicators which include nutrition, school attendance and sanitation. A person is identified as multidimensionally poor if she or he is deprived in one-third or more of the ten indicators. This captures how people experience different deprivations simultaneously, and illuminates key areas that need as much attention as income.

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Indicator of poor children and adults (Others)
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These contrasts between different measures are not only about numbers but also about location. For example, the <a href="https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/Ending_Extreme_Poverty_A_Focus_on_Children_Oct_2016.pdf">World Bank and UNICEF&rsquo;s report</a> using the $1.90/day measure shows that the percentage of income poor is 20 per cent&nbsp;in South Asia and 49 per cent&nbsp;in Sub-Saharan Africa. In comparison, OPHI&rsquo;s study shows that 44 per cent&nbsp;of poor children are in South Asia and 43 per cent&nbsp;in Sub-Saharan Africa, indicating that South Asia requires as much attention as Sub-Saharan Africa in the efforts to fight poverty.

The need for better data

Progress in global poverty reduction has been steady over the past 20 years. According to the 2015 Millennium Development Goals <a href="http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2015_MDG_Report/pdf/MDG%202015%20Summary%20web_english.pdf">report</a>, in 1990, half of the people in developing countries were living under the poverty line. This proportion went down to 14 per cent&nbsp;in 2015. Extreme poverty at the global level also declined more than half, falling from one billion in 1990 to 836 million in 2015.

Despite this progress, efforts to tackle global poverty and to monitor it have sparked debate and concerns when it comes to measuring it, as the poorest people remain invisible. For example, a <a href="http://blogs.worldbank.org/developmenttalk/much-world-deprived-poverty-data-let-s-fix">World Bank study</a> showed that in the period between 2002 and 2011, 61 per cent&nbsp;of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa did not have adequate data to monitor poverty trends. Without this critical information targeting and policy responses could be misguided.

The international community has acknowledged the importance of strengthening the availability and production of data. &ldquo;We are almost blind when the metrics on which action is based are ill-designed or when they are not well understood&rdquo;, <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/118025/118123/Fitoussi+Commission+report">wrote</a> the renowned economists Joseph Stiglitz, Amartya Sen and Jean-Paul Fitoussi in 2010.

A call for action

The results of the OPHI report are a call for action to the international community who must act swiftly and with determination. As new data shines light on aspects that were invisible before, new policy responses must be crafted, particularly for the younger generation growing up in poverty.

In 2015 the then-UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon <a href="http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2015_MDG_Report/pdf/MDG%202015%20rev%20(July%201).pdf">said</a> that the Millenium Development Goals had been &ldquo;the most successful anti-poverty movement in history&rdquo; but that more needed to be done.

<img alt="The Conversation" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/79953/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" width="1" />Children are our future but the future of this rising generation is in peril. Global leaders must do everything in their power, not only to lift children out of poverty, but to protect, nurture and help them realise their full potential. The most successful anti-poverty movement will be the one that leaves no one behind by ending poverty in all its forms and dimensions, everywhere.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/nearly-half-of-the-worlds-poor-are-now-children-thats-689m-young-people-79953">original article</a>.

689 million young people are living below poverty line worldwide, reports Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative

Imagine the populations of the US, Brazil and Russia all lined up one after the other. That is approximately the number of poor children there are in the world – which stands at 689 million across 103 countries, according to a new report published by my colleagues at the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI). Even more frustrating is that children, who represent 34 per cent of the population in these countries, constitute half of the world’s poor and have a higher rate of poverty than adults. This is a call for action that poses a huge challenge to the accomplishment of goal number one of the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs): ending poverty in all its forms and dimensions. As the UN High Level Political Forum meets on July 10 to discuss poverty eradication and track progress on the SDGs, the international community at large must take swift action to address this issue. The OPHI report used the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, first introduced in 2010, which comprises a series of measures that assess deprivations in health, education and living standards to find out how many children are what are called “multidimensionally poor”. When looking at populations across 103 low and middle-income countries for which data is available, the research team found that children represent 48 per cent of the multidimensional poor – and account for two out of every five children in these countries. Some 87 per cent of the 689 million are growing up in South Asia and in Sub-Saharan Africa – around 300 million in each region. In Ethiopia, Niger and South Sudan more than 90 per cent of all children are multidimensionally poor. The report also found that younger children, from birth to the age of nine, are the poorest according to the index – meaning more action is needed to improve nutrition and education in early stages of life. More than just income There are diverse and complementary ways of measuring poverty and, often, one measure alone does not provide the full picture. The numbers living in poverty can be different too. In 2016, a joint report of the World Bank and UNICEF found that, globally, 385 million children were living on less than $1.90 a day (£1.46) per person. But using a different series of measures the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index found that the number of poor children rises to 689m. Why this difference? The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) draws attention to indicators that go beyond just income. It assesses a range of deprivations across health, education and living standards using ten indicators which include nutrition, school attendance and sanitation. A person is identified as multidimensionally poor if she or he is deprived in one-third or more of the ten indicators. This captures how people experience different deprivations simultaneously, and illuminates key areas that need as much attention as income. Indicator of poor children and adults (Others) × These contrasts between different measures are not only about numbers but also about location. For example, the World Bank and UNICEF’s report using the $1.90/day measure shows that the percentage of income poor is 20 per cent in South Asia and 49 per cent in Sub-Saharan Africa. In comparison, OPHI’s study shows that 44 per cent of poor children are in South Asia and 43 per cent in Sub-Saharan Africa, indicating that South Asia requires as much attention as Sub-Saharan Africa in the efforts to fight poverty. The need for better data Progress in global poverty reduction has been steady over the past 20 years. According to the 2015 Millennium Development Goals report, in 1990, half of the people in developing countries were living under the poverty line. This proportion went down to 14 per cent in 2015. Extreme poverty at the global level also declined more than half, falling from one billion in 1990 to 836 million in 2015. Despite this progress, efforts to tackle global poverty and to monitor it have sparked debate and concerns when it comes to measuring it, as the poorest people remain invisible. For example, a World Bank study showed that in the period between 2002 and 2011, 61 per cent of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa did not have adequate data to monitor poverty trends. Without this critical information targeting and policy responses could be misguided. The international community has acknowledged the importance of strengthening the availability and production of data. “We are almost blind when the metrics on which action is based are ill-designed or when they are not well understood”, wrote the renowned economists Joseph Stiglitz, Amartya Sen and Jean-Paul Fitoussi in 2010. A call for action The results of the OPHI report are a call for action to the international community who must act swiftly and with determination. As new data shines light on aspects that were invisible before, new policy responses must be crafted, particularly for the younger generation growing up in poverty. In 2015 the then-UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon said that the Millenium Development Goals had been “the most successful anti-poverty movement in history” but that more needed to be done. Children are our future but the future of this rising generation is in peril. Global leaders must do everything in their power, not only to lift children out of poverty, but to protect, nurture and help them realise their full potential. The most successful anti-poverty movement will be the one that leaves no one behind by ending poverty in all its forms and dimensions, everywhere. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Nearly half of the world's poor are now children

&nbsp;

Imagine going through your day without access to clean, safe water in your home for drinking, cooking, washing or bathing whenever you need it. According to a <a href="https://www.unicef.org/publications/index_96611.html">new report from UNICEF and the World Health Organization</a>, 2.1 billion people around the world face that challenge every day. And the task of providing water for households <a href="http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1192&amp;context=spp_papers">falls disproportionately to women and girls</a>, especially in <a href="https://unstats.un.org/unsd/gender/downloads/Ch7_Environment_info.pdf">rural areas</a>.

Water, <a href="http://www.un.org/es/comun/docs/?symbol=A/RES/64/292&amp;lang=E">a human right</a>, is critical for human survival and development. A sufficient supply of biologically and chemically safe water is necessary for drinking and <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tmi.12339/full">personal hygiene</a> to prevent <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tmi.12331/full">diarrheal diseases</a>, <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1001605">trachoma</a>, <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1001620">intestinal worm infections</a>, <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nyas.12330/full">stunted growth among children</a> and numerous other deleterious outcomes from chemical contaminants like <a href="http://search.proquest.com/openview/0eae305bc51900da0bd056019fe3f1eb/1?pq-origsite=gscholar">arsenic</a> and <a href="http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?pid=S0042-96862000000900003&amp;script=sci_arttext">lead</a>.

I have carried out research in <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953615300010">India</a>, <a href="http://www.unicef.org/wash/schools/files/Bolivia_MHM_Booklet_DM_15_Nov_single_0940_Bolivia.pdf">Bolivia</a> and <a href="http://washdev.iwaponline.com/content/4/4/642">Kenya</a> on the water and sanitation challenges that women and girls confront and how these experiences influence their lives. In my field work, I have seen adolescent girls, pregnant women, and mothers with small children carrying water. Through interviews, I have learned of the hardships they face when carrying out this obligatory task.

An insufficient supply of safe and accessible water poses extra risks and challenges for women and girls. Without recognizing the uneven burden of water work that women bear, well-intentioned programs to bring water to places in need will continue to fail to meet their goals.

Lost hours

Collecting water takes time. Simply to get water for drinking, bathing, cooking and other household needs, millions of women and girls spend hours every day traveling to water sources, waiting in line and carrying heavy loads &ndash; often several times a day.

The new UNICEF/WHO report states that 263 million people worldwide have access to water sources that are considered safe but need to spend at least 30 minutes walking or queuing to collect their water. Another 159 million get their water from surface sources that are considered to be the most unsafe, such as rivers, streams and ponds. Water from these sources is <a href="https://www.unicef.org/publications/index_96611.html">even more likely to require over 30 minutes to collect</a>.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/178255/width754/file-20170714-5068-10rm9go.jpg" />
<figcaption>Training exercise for women on water and sanitation in Rajasthan, India, designed to help reduce poverty in desert communities.</figcaption>
</figure>

&nbsp;

In a study of 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, UNICEF estimated that women there spent <a href="http://www.unicef.org/media/files/JMPreport2012.pdf">16 million hours collecting water</a> each day. Women in a <a href="http://www.fasebj.org/content/31/1_Supplement/651.4.short">recent study in Kenya</a> reported spending an average of 4.5 hours fetching water per week, causing 77 per cent to worry about their safety while fetching and preventing 24 per cent from caring for their children.

When children or other family members get sick from consuming poor-quality water, which can happen <a href="http://search.proquest.com/openview/abbed8d7464d9c5a80ff98e98738e7d8/1?pq-origsite=gscholar">even if the water is initially clean when collected</a>, women spend their time providing care. These responsibilities represent lost opportunities for women&rsquo;s employment, <a href="https://etd.library.emory.edu/view/record/pid/emory:94cc7">education</a>, leisure or sleep.

Heavy loads

Water is heavy. The World Health Organization recommends <a href="http://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/water/en/">20-50 liters of water per person per day</a> for drinking, cooking and washing. That amounts to hauling between <a href="http://www.onlineconversion.com/waterweight.htm">44 and 110 pounds of water</a> daily for use by each household member.

And in many places, water sources are far from homes. In Asia and Africa, women <a href="http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/FactSheet35en.pdf">walk an average of 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) per day</a> collecting water. Carrying such loads over long distances can result in <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222335075_Gender_Differences_in_Time_and_Energy_Costs_of_Distance_for_Regular_Domestic_Chores_in_Rural_Zimbabwe_A_Case_Study_in_the_Chiduku_Communal_Area">strained backs, shoulders and necks</a>, and other injuries if women have to walk over <a href="http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1192&amp;context=spp_papers">uneven and steep terrain or on busy roads</a>.

The burden is even heavier for women who are pregnant or are also carrying small children. Moreover, <a href="http://www.fasebj.org/content/31/1_Supplement/651.4.short">pregnant women worry</a> that transporting these heavy loads will lead to early labor or even miscarriage.

Even when a household or village has access to a safe water source close to home, residents may not use it if they believe the water is inferior in some way. As one woman told my research team in India:

<blockquote>
Tube well water quality is not good&hellip; water is saline. Cooking is not good due to this water. Not good for drinking either. People are getting water from that neighbouring village&hellip;. for cooking we get water from the river.
</blockquote>

In this community, the neighboring village was at least a kilometer away.

Fetching water can also be very dangerous for women and girls. They can face <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25167777">conflict at water points</a> and the risk of <a href="https://sites.tufts.edu/jha/archives/50">physical or sexual assault</a>. Many of these dangers also arise when women do not have access to <a href="https://theconversation.com/gender-equality-comes-one-toilet-at-a-time-50700">safe, clean and private toilets or latrines</a> for urinating, defecating and managing menstruation.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/115712/width754/image-20160320-4453-1pwwid1.jpg" />
<figcaption>Girls wash at school water tap, Honduras.</figcaption>
</figure>

Global demand for water is increasing. The United Nations forecasts that if current water use patterns do not change, <a href="http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002318/231823E.pdf">world demand will exceed supply by 40 per cent by 2030</a>. In such a scenario, it is hard to imagine that women&rsquo;s and girls&rsquo; experiences will improve without intentional efforts.

A focus on women&rsquo;s needs

When communities initiate programs to improve access to water, it is critical to ask women about their needs and experiences. Although women and girls play key roles in obtaining and managing water globally, they are <a href="http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.energy.32.041806.143704?journalCode=energy">rarely offered roles</a> in water improvement programs or on local water committees. They need to be included as a right and as a practical matter. <a href="http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.energy.32.041806.143704?journalCode=energy">Numerous water projects in developing countries have failed</a> because they did not include women.

And women should play meaningful roles. A study in <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00267-014-0356-1">northern Kenya</a> found that although women served on local water management committees, conflict with men at water points persisted because the women often were not invited to meetings or were not allowed to speak.

Women who raise their voices about water concerns need to be heard. In Flint, Michigan, women <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/01/mother-exposed-flint-lead-contamination-water-crisis/">were critical to revealing</a> <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/20/465545378/lead-laced-water-in-flint-a-step-by-step-look-at-the-makings-of-a-crisis">the city&rsquo;s water crisis</a> and <a href="http://observer.com/2017/02/flint-water-protest-trump-womens-march/">continue to push for changes</a>.

<figure><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t6687jtuyv8?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440"></iframe>

<figcaption>Flint, Michigan resident LeeAnne Walters testifies to Congress about seeking information on her home&rsquo;s lead-contaminated water.</figcaption>
</figure>

&nbsp;

We also need broader strategies to reduce <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)61497-0/fulltext?rss=yes">gender disparities in water access</a>. First, we need to collect more data on women&rsquo;s water burden and how it affects their health, well-being and personal development. Second, women must be involved in creating and managing targeted programs to mitigate these risks. Third, these programs should be evaluated to determine whether they are truly improving women&rsquo;s lives. And finally, social messaging affirming the idea that water work belongs only to women must be abandoned.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called empowerment of the world&rsquo;s women &ldquo;<a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=53064#.Vu62W-IrKM9">a global imperative</a>.&rdquo; To attain that goal, we must reduce the weight of water on women&rsquo;s shoulders.

<img alt="The Conversation" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/81054/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" width="1" />

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/women-still-carry-most-of-the-worlds-water-81054">original article</a>.

Millions of women spend hours every day traveling 6 kms on an average to fetch water

Imagine going through your day without access to clean, safe water in your home for drinking, cooking, washing or bathing whenever you need it. According to a new report from UNICEF and the World Health Organization, 2.1 billion people around the world face that challenge every day. And the task of providing water for households falls disproportionately to women and girls, especially in rural areas. Water, a human right, is critical for human survival and development. A sufficient supply of biologically and chemically safe water is necessary for drinking and personal hygiene to prevent diarrheal diseases, trachoma, intestinal worm infections, stunted growth among children and numerous other deleterious outcomes from chemical contaminants like arsenic and lead. I have carried out research in India, Bolivia and Kenya on the water and sanitation challenges that women and girls confront and how these experiences influence their lives. In my field work, I have seen adolescent girls, pregnant women, and mothers with small children carrying water. Through interviews, I have learned of the hardships they face when carrying out this obligatory task. An insufficient supply of safe and accessible water poses extra risks and challenges for women and girls. Without recognizing the uneven burden of water work that women bear, well-intentioned programs to bring water to places in need will continue to fail to meet their goals. Lost hours Collecting water takes time. Simply to get water for drinking, bathing, cooking and other household needs, millions of women and girls spend hours every day traveling to water sources, waiting in line and carrying heavy loads – often several times a day. The new UNICEF/WHO report states that 263 million people worldwide have access to water sources that are considered safe but need to spend at least 30 minutes walking or queuing to collect their water. Another 159 million get their water from surface sources that are considered to be the most unsafe, such as rivers, streams and ponds. Water from these sources is even more likely to require over 30 minutes to collect. Training exercise for women on water and sanitation in Rajasthan, India, designed to help reduce poverty in desert communities. In a study of 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, UNICEF estimated that women there spent 16 million hours collecting water each day. Women in a recent study in Kenya reported spending an average of 4.5 hours fetching water per week, causing 77 per cent to worry about their safety while fetching and preventing 24 per cent from caring for their children. When children or other family members get sick from consuming poor-quality water, which can happen even if the water is initially clean when collected, women spend their time providing care. These responsibilities represent lost opportunities for women’s employment, education, leisure or sleep. Heavy loads Water is heavy. The World Health Organization recommends 20-50 liters of water per person per day for drinking, cooking and washing. That amounts to hauling between 44 and 110 pounds of water daily for use by each household member. And in many places, water sources are far from homes. In Asia and Africa, women walk an average of 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) per day collecting water. Carrying such loads over long distances can result in strained backs, shoulders and necks, and other injuries if women have to walk over uneven and steep terrain or on busy roads. The burden is even heavier for women who are pregnant or are also carrying small children. Moreover, pregnant women worry that transporting these heavy loads will lead to early labor or even miscarriage. Even when a household or village has access to a safe water source close to home, residents may not use it if they believe the water is inferior in some way. As one woman told my research team in India: Tube well water quality is not good… water is saline. Cooking is not good due to this water. Not good for drinking either. People are getting water from that neighbouring village…. for cooking we get water from the river. In this community, the neighboring village was at least a kilometer away. Fetching water can also be very dangerous for women and girls. They can face conflict at water points and the risk of physical or sexual assault. Many of these dangers also arise when women do not have access to safe, clean and private toilets or latrines for urinating, defecating and managing menstruation. Girls wash at school water tap, Honduras. Global demand for water is increasing. The United Nations forecasts that if current water use patterns do not change, world demand will exceed supply by 40 per cent by 2030. In such a scenario, it is hard to imagine that women’s and girls’ experiences will improve without intentional efforts. A focus on women’s needs When communities initiate programs to improve access to water, it is critical to ask women about their needs and experiences. Although women and girls play key roles in obtaining and managing water globally, they are rarely offered roles in water improvement programs or on local water committees. They need to be included as a right and as a practical matter. Numerous water projects in developing countries have failed because they did not include women. And women should play meaningful roles. A study in northern Kenya found that although women served on local water management committees, conflict with men at water points persisted because the women often were not invited to meetings or were not allowed to speak. Women who raise their voices about water concerns need to be heard. In Flint, Michigan, women were critical to revealing the city’s water crisis and continue to push for changes. Flint, Michigan resident LeeAnne Walters testifies to Congress about seeking information on her home’s lead-contaminated water. We also need broader strategies to reduce gender disparities in water access. First, we need to collect more data on women’s water burden and how it affects their health, well-being and personal development. Second, women must be involved in creating and managing targeted programs to mitigate these risks. Third, these programs should be evaluated to determine whether they are truly improving women’s lives. And finally, social messaging affirming the idea that water work belongs only to women must be abandoned. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called empowerment of the world’s women “a global imperative.” To attain that goal, we must reduce the weight of water on women’s shoulders. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The burden of carrying water for our use rests on women

Nearly 50 children who were trapped in an orphanage in the rebel-held Syrian enclave of east Aleppo were evacuated on Monday, some critically injured or dehydrated, the United Nations Children&#39;s Fund (UNICEF) said.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) evacuated the orphans from eastern Aleppo, along with facility staff who have been caring for them, ICRC spokeswoman Krista Armstrong said.

&quot;They were given priority and were the first to be evacuated by bus when the operation resumed,&quot; Armstrong said, adding that she could not provide an exact figure yet.

Earlier, Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF regional director, said in a statement that all 47 children trapped in the orphanage were evacuated to safety, &quot;with some in critical condition from injuries and dehydration&quot;.

UNICEF and other agencies were also assisting in reunifying other children evacuated in the past few days with their families and giving them medical care and winter clothes, he said.

(Reuters)

'They were given priority and were the first to be evacuated by bus when the operation resumed,' said an ICRC spokeswoman

Nearly 50 children who were trapped in an orphanage in the rebel-held Syrian enclave of east Aleppo were evacuated on Monday, some critically injured or dehydrated, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) evacuated the orphans from eastern Aleppo, along with facility staff who have been caring for them, ICRC spokeswoman Krista Armstrong said. "They were given priority and were the first to be evacuated by bus when the operation resumed," Armstrong said, adding that she could not provide an exact figure yet. Earlier, Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF regional director, said in a statement that all 47 children trapped in the orphanage were evacuated to safety, "with some in critical condition from injuries and dehydration". UNICEF and other agencies were also assisting in reunifying other children evacuated in the past few days with their families and giving them medical care and winter clothes, he said. (Reuters)

47 children evacuated from Aleppo orphanage, some in critical shape: UN

About 50 million children across the world have been &#39;uprooted&#39; from their homes &nbsp;by war, violence or persecution&nbsp;and millions more are migrating in the hope of &quot;finding a better, safer life,&quot; United Nation&#39;s children program said today.&nbsp; 
 
In its new released report &nbsp;&#39;Uprooted: The growing crisis for refugee and migrant children&#39;, the United Nations International Children&#39;s Emergency Fund &nbsp;(UNICEF) underlines that millions of children all over the world, traumatised by the conflicts and violence, face further dangers during their including the &quot;risk of drowning on sea crossings&quot;, &quot;malnourishment&quot; and &quot;dehydration&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Indelible images of individual children &ndash; Aylan Kurdi&rsquo;s small body washed up on a beach after drowning at sea or Omran Daqneesh&rsquo;s stunned and bloody face as he sat in an ambulance after his home was destroyed &ndash; have shocked the world,&rdquo; says UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;But each picture, each girl or boy, represents many millions of children in danger &ndash; and this demands that our compassion for the individual children we see be matched with action for all children.&rdquo; 
 
Children make up about a third of the world&#39;s population but about half of all refugees. 
 
The children account for a &quot;disproportionate and growing proportion&quot; of people seeking refuge outside their home countries. 
 
A grim picture of the world &nbsp; 
 
The report paints a grim picture of children and families, affected by violent conflict and other crises, who find it &quot;safer to risk everything on a perilous journey than remain at home&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
The analysis of global data reveals that 28 million of those children were displaced by violence and conflict, including 10 million child refugees. 
&nbsp;
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<h5>Staggeringly enough, more and more children, among those at the highest risk of exploitation and abuse including by smugglers and traffickers, are crossing borders on their own.&nbsp;</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Staggeringly enough, more and more children, among those at the highest risk of exploitation and abuse including by smugglers and traffickers, are crossing borders on their own.?
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Staggeringly enough, more and more children, among those at the highest risk of exploitation and abuse including by smugglers and traffickers, are crossing borders on their own.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
&ldquo;I tell them we are people just like you&rdquo; Mustafa, 14, adjusts to life in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Germany?src=hash">#Germany</a> after <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Syria?src=hash">#Syria</a> <a href="https://t.co/NGpzp8olg8">https://t.co/NGpzp8olg8</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChildrenUprooted?src=hash">#ChildrenUprooted</a>
&mdash; UNICEF (@UNICEF) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNICEF/status/773342546466570240">September 7, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
 
 
In 2015, over 100,000 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum in 78 countries &ndash; triple the number in 2014, the report reads.&nbsp; 
 
About 20 million other international child migrants have left their homes for a variety of reasons including extreme poverty or gang violence, the report states. 
 
 
Largest number of recent refugees in Turkey&nbsp; 
 
Turkey hosts the largest total number of recent refugees, and very likely the largest number of child refugees in the world, according to Uprooted.&nbsp; 
 
Further, relative to its population, Lebanon hosts the largest number of refugees by an overwhelming margin: Roughly 1 in 5 people in Lebanon is a refugee.&nbsp; 
 
In United Kingdom (UK), &nbsp;there is roughly 1 refugee for every 530 people by comparison while 1 in every 1,200 in the United States.&nbsp;
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<h5>Turkey hosts the largest total number of recent refugees, and very likely the largest number of child refugees in the world, according to Uprooted.&nbsp;</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=
Turkey hosts the largest total number of recent refugees, and very likely the largest number of child refugees in the world, according to Uprooted.?" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
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&quot;When considering refugee-host countries by income level, however, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, and Pakistan host the highest concentration of refugees,&quot; UNICEF report points out.&nbsp; 
 
In 2015, about 45 percent of child refugees under the UN refugee agency`s care came from Syria and Afghanistan. 
 
Impact of migration 
 
Migration can offer opportunities for both the children who migrate and the communities they join, the report argues.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;An analysis of the impact of migration in high-income countries found that migrants contributed more in taxes and social payments than they received; filled both high- and low-skilled gaps in the labour market; and contributed to economic growth and innovation in hosting countries,&quot; it states.&nbsp; 
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<h5>The UN report has also pointed out how legal barriers pose a challenge for the children to claim equal benefits as the children who are native to a country.&nbsp;</h5>
</blockquote>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The UN report has also pointed out how legal barriers pose a challenge for the children to claim equal benefits as the children who are native to a country.?" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
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</div>
</div>
 
 
children who have left or are forcibly displaced from their homes often lose out on the potential benefits of migration, such as education &ndash; a major driving factor for many children and families who choose to migrate. A refugee child is five times more likely to be out of school than a non-refugee child. When they are able to attend school at all, it is the place migrant and refugee children are most likely to encounter discrimination &ndash; including unfair treatment and bullying. 
 
The UN global data has also pointed out how legal barriers pose a challenge for the children to claim equal benefits as the children who are native to a country.&nbsp; 
 
It has been observed that in the worst cases, &quot;xenophobia can escalate to direct attacks. In Germany alone, authorities tracked 850 attacks against refugee shelters in 2015&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile, the international body has said it will take up the issue of migration in two late-September meetings on the sidelines of this year&#39;s UN general assembly. 
 
&quot;We&#39;d like to see some clear commitments and practical measures,&quot; UNICEF deputy executive director Justin Forsyth told journalists in New York. 
 
&quot;The burden sharing of this crisis is not fair: the greatest burden is supported by neighboring countries or the poorest countries.&quot; 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

'50 million children throughout the world have been displaced from their home countries by war, violence or persecution'

About 50 million children across the world have been 'uprooted' from their homes by war, violence or persecution and millions more are migrating in the hope of "finding a better, safer life," United Nation's children program said today. In its new released report 'Uprooted: The growing crisis for refugee and migrant children', the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) underlines that millions of children all over the world, traumatised by the conflicts and violence, face further dangers during their including the "risk of drowning on sea crossings", "malnourishment" and "dehydration". "Indelible images of individual children – Aylan Kurdi’s small body washed up on a beach after drowning at sea or Omran Daqneesh’s stunned and bloody face as he sat in an ambulance after his home was destroyed – have shocked the world,” says UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake. “But each picture, each girl or boy, represents many millions of children in danger – and this demands that our compassion for the individual children we see be matched with action for all children.” Children make up about a third of the world's population but about half of all refugees. The children account for a "disproportionate and growing proportion" of people seeking refuge outside their home countries. A grim picture of the world The report paints a grim picture of children and families, affected by violent conflict and other crises, who find it "safer to risk everything on a perilous journey than remain at home". The analysis of global data reveals that 28 million of those children were displaced by violence and conflict, including 10 million child refugees. Staggeringly enough, more and more children, among those at the highest risk of exploitation and abuse including by smugglers and traffickers, are crossing borders on their own. Staggeringly enough, more and more children, among those at the highest risk of exploitation and abuse including by smugglers and traffickers, are crossing borders on their own. “I tell them we are people just like you” Mustafa, 14, adjusts to life in #Germany after #Syria https://t.co/NGpzp8olg8 #ChildrenUprooted — UNICEF (@UNICEF) September 7, 2016 In 2015, over 100,000 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum in 78 countries – triple the number in 2014, the report reads. About 20 million other international child migrants have left their homes for a variety of reasons including extreme poverty or gang violence, the report states. Largest number of recent refugees in Turkey Turkey hosts the largest total number of recent refugees, and very likely the largest number of child refugees in the world, according to Uprooted. Further, relative to its population, Lebanon hosts the largest number of refugees by an overwhelming margin: Roughly 1 in 5 people in Lebanon is a refugee. In United Kingdom (UK), there is roughly 1 refugee for every 530 people by comparison while 1 in every 1,200 in the United States. Turkey hosts the largest total number of recent refugees, and very likely the largest number of child refugees in the world, according to Uprooted. "When considering refugee-host countries by income level, however, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, and Pakistan host the highest concentration of refugees," UNICEF report points out. In 2015, about 45 percent of child refugees under the UN refugee agency`s care came from Syria and Afghanistan. Impact of migration Migration can offer opportunities for both the children who migrate and the communities they join, the report argues. "An analysis of the impact of migration in high-income countries found that migrants contributed more in taxes and social payments than they received; filled both high- and low-skilled gaps in the labour market; and contributed to economic growth and innovation in hosting countries," it states. The UN report has also pointed out how legal barriers pose a challenge for the children to claim equal benefits as the children who are native to a country. children who have left or are forcibly displaced from their homes often lose out on the potential benefits of migration, such as education – a major driving factor for many children and families who choose to migrate. A refugee child is five times more likely to be out of school than a non-refugee child. When they are able to attend school at all, it is the place migrant and refugee children are most likely to encounter discrimination – including unfair treatment and bullying. The UN global data has also pointed out how legal barriers pose a challenge for the children to claim equal benefits as the children who are native to a country. It has been observed that in the worst cases, "xenophobia can escalate to direct attacks. In Germany alone, authorities tracked 850 attacks against refugee shelters in 2015". Meanwhile, the international body has said it will take up the issue of migration in two late-September meetings on the sidelines of this year's UN general assembly. "We'd like to see some clear commitments and practical measures," UNICEF deputy executive director Justin Forsyth told journalists in New York. "The burden sharing of this crisis is not fair: the greatest burden is supported by neighboring countries or the poorest countries." (WION with inputs from AFP)

About half of all refugees in the world are children: UNICEF report

The United Nations has temporarily suspended aid deliveries in Nigeria&#39;s northeastern state of Borno, the former stronghold of jihadists Boko Haram, after a humanitarian convoy was attacked, the UN children&#39;s agency UNICEF said yesterday. 
 
UNICEF said in a statement that unknown assailants attacked the convoy yesterday as it returned to Maiduguri from delivering aid in Bama, injuring a UNICEF employee and an International Organization for Migration contractor. 
 
&quot;The United Nations has temporarily suspended humanitarian assistance missions pending review of the security situation,&quot; it said. 
 
Nigerian army spokesman Sani Usman said troops were escorting the humanitarian convoy when it was attacked by &quot;suspected remnants of Boko Haram&quot; and that two soldiers and three civilians were wounded. 
 
Nearly a quarter of a million children in Borno suffer from life-threatening malnourishment and around one in five will die if they do not receive treatment, UNICEF said earlier this month. 
 
Medecins Sans Frontieres said on Wednesday that severely malnourished children were dying in large numbers in northeast Nigeria, where food supplies are close to running out. 
 
By 2014, Boko Haram controlled territory nearly the size of Belgium in northeast Nigeria until most of it was recaptured last year by the Nigerian army and troops from neighbouring countries. 
 
More than 15,000 people have been killed and at least 2 million displaced by Boko Haram&#39;s insurgency in Nigeria. The group has carried out suicide bombings in northeast Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon, Niger and Chad. 
 
(Reuters)

Nigerian army spokesman said two soldiers and three civilians were injured in an attack by 'suspected remnants of Boko Haram'

The United Nations has temporarily suspended aid deliveries in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno, the former stronghold of jihadists Boko Haram, after a humanitarian convoy was attacked, the UN children's agency UNICEF said yesterday. UNICEF said in a statement that unknown assailants attacked the convoy yesterday as it returned to Maiduguri from delivering aid in Bama, injuring a UNICEF employee and an International Organization for Migration contractor. "The United Nations has temporarily suspended humanitarian assistance missions pending review of the security situation," it said. Nigerian army spokesman Sani Usman said troops were escorting the humanitarian convoy when it was attacked by "suspected remnants of Boko Haram" and that two soldiers and three civilians were wounded. Nearly a quarter of a million children in Borno suffer from life-threatening malnourishment and around one in five will die if they do not receive treatment, UNICEF said earlier this month. Medecins Sans Frontieres said on Wednesday that severely malnourished children were dying in large numbers in northeast Nigeria, where food supplies are close to running out. By 2014, Boko Haram controlled territory nearly the size of Belgium in northeast Nigeria until most of it was recaptured last year by the Nigerian army and troops from neighbouring countries. More than 15,000 people have been killed and at least 2 million displaced by Boko Haram's insurgency in Nigeria. The group has carried out suicide bombings in northeast Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon, Niger and Chad. (Reuters)

UN suspends aid after convoy attack in Nigeria's Borno state

India&#39;s parliament on Tuesday passed a new labour law that allows children to work for their families despite concerns by activists that it will hurt their development. 
 
The Lok Sabha or the lower house approved a ban on all children under 14 from working, except if employed in family businesses or in the sports and entertainment industry. 
 
The current law prohibits children under 14 from working only in hazardous jobs, although even this is not properly implemented, according to activists. 
 
The government defended the decision to allow some forms of labour after school hours or during vacations, saying some children needed to learn traditional skills and that families needed a helping hand. 
 
&quot;The purpose of the bill is that we should be able to practically implement it. So we have given some exemptions,&quot; junior labour and employment minister Bandaru Dattatreya told parliament. 
 
&quot;We have enabled many safeguards in the new bill,&quot; he added. 
 
UNICEF decried the new provision in the law, saying the legitimisation of family work would further disadvantage children from poorer families. 
 
&quot;The provision where the child helps his family or family enterprises, which is other than any hazardous occupations... raises serious concerns and is believed to impact the development and protection of the child,&quot; it said in a statement. 
 
Millions of children in India work as domestic servants and in factories, mines and many other areas, according to aid agencies and government figures. 
 
India&#39;s Nobel laureate and child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi said he was disappointed by the amended law. 
 
&quot;The Child Labour Amendment Bill 2016 is a missed opportunity to protect our children and generations to come,&quot; he wrote on Twitter. 
 
(AFP) 
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UNICEF decried the new provision, saying the legitimisation of family work would further disadvantage children from poorer families

India's parliament on Tuesday passed a new labour law that allows children to work for their families despite concerns by activists that it will hurt their development. The Lok Sabha or the lower house approved a ban on all children under 14 from working, except if employed in family businesses or in the sports and entertainment industry. The current law prohibits children under 14 from working only in hazardous jobs, although even this is not properly implemented, according to activists. The government defended the decision to allow some forms of labour after school hours or during vacations, saying some children needed to learn traditional skills and that families needed a helping hand. "The purpose of the bill is that we should be able to practically implement it. So we have given some exemptions," junior labour and employment minister Bandaru Dattatreya told parliament. "We have enabled many safeguards in the new bill," he added. UNICEF decried the new provision in the law, saying the legitimisation of family work would further disadvantage children from poorer families. "The provision where the child helps his family or family enterprises, which is other than any hazardous occupations... raises serious concerns and is believed to impact the development and protection of the child," it said in a statement. Millions of children in India work as domestic servants and in factories, mines and many other areas, according to aid agencies and government figures. India's Nobel laureate and child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi said he was disappointed by the amended law. "The Child Labour Amendment Bill 2016 is a missed opportunity to protect our children and generations to come," he wrote on Twitter. (AFP)

Indian parliament passes controversial child labour law

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