New UNICEF Report on child poverty in East Asia and the Pacific

A new UNICEF study by Asian scientist analyzed that child poverty in East Asia and the Pacific has found that of the 93 million child population, over 30 million suffered from at least one form of severe scarcity, such as the inability to go to school, or access basic health care, safe drinking water, a sanitary toilet or adequate nutrition – and more than 13 million suffered from two or more forms of severe deprivation.

The study, entitled “Child Poverty in East Asia and the Pacific: Deprivations and Disparities,” reviewed child poverty studies carried out in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vanuatu, and Vietnam from 2007 to 2010.

The seven Asia-Pacific countries were among 53 worldwide that participated in UNICEF’s Global Study on Child Poverty and Disparity, which draws attention to the daily deprivations suffered by children and their negative impact on national development.

Latest UNICEF National Ambassador of India

Aamir Khan will be the newest celebrity face of UNICEF in India. The 46-year-old actor will be appointed the national ambassador of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on November 30.

The actor-producer, known for his films like Taare Zameen Par, Ghajini, 3 Idiots and Dhobi Ghat, will support UNICEF’s work in promoting child rights and nutrition of children under two years, a release said.

The global organization has roped in various international celebrities to support its campaigns around the globe. Some famous faces include Hollywood actors Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Mia Farrow, Vanessa Redgrave, Susan Sarandon, and entertainer Shakira, and football player David Beckham.

Amitabh Bachchan was appointed a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador in 2005 and has since fronted their polio eradication programme successfully.

UNICEF aspires to make nutrition a national priority in Niger

In the Integrated Health Center of Kollo, South Niger, a few women holding their skinny babies line up in front of the out-patient therapeutic feeding center (CRENAS). A Woman named Zelika Marou has four children. Today, she brought her 11-month-old daughter, Fati Hama, for her weekly consultation.

“I came to the health center because my baby had fever and diarrhea, but I was told that she was also suffering from malnutrition,” she explained. Fati Hama started her treatment six weeks ago, and today is her last appointment. “Look at her,” said Mrs. Marou holding her baby girl with pride. “She looks so healthy now!”

To react to the major food and nutrition crisis of 2010, UNICEF and its partners supported the development of new treatment sites for malnutrition within present health centers. This allowed not only to provide treatment for children in emergency situation, but also to integrate nutrition issues at the heart of the existing health system. In Kollo, a new building was constructed to host the Intensive Nutritional Rehabilitation Centers (CRENI) and medicine and other supplies were made available to ensure quality of care.

Moreover, several health agents were trained to improve their skills in terms of managing childhood illnesses, with an emphasis on the detection and treatment of malnutrition. Malnutrition is often linked to other child preventable diseases such as malaria, respiratory infections, and diarrhea, and it is essential for health agents to understand the range of health issues that can affect children so they can provide quality care.

UNICEF opens humanitarian warehouse in Dubai for nutrition goods for Southern Somalia

UNICEF announced the opening of its first humanitarian transit hub for nutrition supplies meant for Somalia. Situated in the port of Dubai, the new warehouse will help speed up the delivery of nutrition supplies to Somalia hit by famine.

An estimated 5,000 metric tons of corn soya blend flour will be moved through the warehouse monthly to Mogadishu to in the worst-affected regions of the country.

Up until now, sea routings have had to use the port of Mombasa exclusively as the gateway into the Horn of Africa. Mombasa will continue to be used, but shipping direct to Mogadishu will help reduce congestion in that port and hasten the delivery of the life-saving assistance.

Currently there are 1.5 million children in southern Somalia who are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. There are 450,000 acutely malnourished children, including 190,000 who are so severely malnourished that they are at high risk of death within weeks if they don’t receive the necessary assistance.

Royal couple in UNICEF visits to Denmark aid centre

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will take a trip to Denmark on 2nd Nov to learn more about the work of children's charity UNICEF in East Africa. An estimated 12 million people in the region are at risk of starvation because of food shortages, and scarcity has been declared in Somalia.

The royal couple will go to UNICEF’s emergency supply centre in Copenhagen. The UK is giving £200m in aid to the affected region, £72m of which has been raised through public donations.

The duke and duchess will tour a British Airways Boeing 747 before a relief flight carrying 45 tonnes of aid, including emergency medical supplies, leaves for East Africa. They will be at the airport after visiting the UNICEF warehouse with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark.

BA has made an aircraft available to help UNICEF get aid to East Africa, and this will be its second relief flight to the region. The airline's chief executive Keith Williams said: "We're delighted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be seeing the flight off."