News from the Field
October 18, 2012
In Malawi, Universal Birth Registration Protects Children and Gives Access to Social Services
According to the 2008 population census, the Government of Malawi estimates that only about 16.6% of children under 18 have a birth certificate. Without a birth certificate, children are at a higher risk of abuses like child trafficking and early marriage. They are also likelier to have limited access to social services like healthcare and education. Malawi’s universal birth registration process started in early 2012 in the capital, Lilongwe. Through support from UNICEF, this program will soon be rolled out to other parts of the country.
October 17, 2012
Scholarships Help Somali Girls Cross Barriers to Education
The rate of school enrolment for girls and boys in Somalia remains low, and for girls it is especially low. Somali families with low incomes cannot afford school fees, uniforms and learning materials. Limited educational services are also an obstacle. UNICEF supports the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to help marginalized girls in northwestern and northeastern Somalia go to school by offering a comprehensive scholarship package. This scholarship fund supports vulnerable Somali girls through the full education cycle.
October 12, 2012
In Jordan, UNICEF and Partners’ Immense Water Delivery Operation Meets the Needs of Syrian Refugees
Every day, about 157 truckloads of water—over 250,000 gallons—are delivered to the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan, for the 32,000 residents of the camp. UNICEF and the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief are supplying the water, building latrine and shower blocks, and providing waste management. UNICEF and partners are also providing water conservation education to help Syrians in the camp slowly reduce water usage. And for a more sustainable approach to supplying water to the camp, UNICEF is drilling two new wells for the camp.
October 5, 2012
In Lebanon, Child Friendly Spaces Provide a Safe Environment for Syrian Refugee Children to Learn and Play
With the situation deteriorating in the Syrian Arab Republic, more and more children have been arriving in Lebanon, fleeing fighting and destruction. The psychological impact of violence on Syrian children has been profound, and there is an urgent need for safe places where children can access psychosocial support and regain a sense of normalcy in their lives. UNICEF supports these Child Friendly Spaces, where activities focus on building the children’s self-confidence, and integrating the Syrian children with their Lebanese peers.
October 3, 2012
In Nepal, Improving Maternal and Child Health
Nepal took a historic step last week as government ministries partnered with UNCEF and others to launch the country’s new Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan. About 49% of Nepalese children under five suffer from stunting, a measure of chronic undernutrition. Acute malnutrition heightens children’s risk of death and damages the brain, affecting physical and mental development. The Nutrition Plan aims to reduce chronic malnutrition by one third over the next five years, and in ten years bring it down to a level at which it no longer hampers development.
