Europe and Central Asia

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan/GENEVA, 22 October 2023 – "UNICEF welcomes the repatriation of 83 Kyrgyzstani children and women from Syria. The repatriations – supported by UNICEF and actioned under the “AiKol” Mission – are an example of the Government of Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to upholding children’s rights set out in the Convention on the Rights of the…

Children’s health and survival rely on timely access to strong, resilient and inclusive health systems. In recent years large strides have been made in health outcomes, particularly for children, adolescents and women across Central Asia. Innovations in primary health care across the region aim at bettering the quality of and access to health care…, Advancing primary health care in Central Asia, A girl listens to her Vaccination Nurse UNICEF/UN0681566/Babajanyan VII Photo A nurse on a home visit in Kazakhstan. UNICEF/2023/AizhanBaiskakova Natural disasters and other emergencies in Kazakhstan have heightened the vulnerability of families with children in crisis situations. To address this, UNICEF is supporting the development of a…

Nearly 10.8 million children in Europe and Central Asia have disabilities, accounting for 1 in 17 children across the region. Their opportunity to lead fulfilling lives and fully and fairly participate in society depends on the extent to which they are supported and included in their homes, schools and communities. The exclusion of people with…

Nearly 10.8 million children in Europe and Central Asia have disabilities, accounting for 1 in 17 children across the region. Their opportunity to lead fulfilling lives and fully and fairly participate in society depends on the extent to which they are supported and included in their homes, schools and communities. The exclusion of people with…, A comprehensive and inclusive social protection system should ensure:, Income security, Income security for children with disabilities and their families that supports an adequate standard of living on an equal basis with others, including through effective access to disability-specific cash benefits for children and their carers., Adequate healthcare, Access to adequate healthcare, including disability-related medical care and rehabilitation. , Financial coverage, Financial coverage of disability-related costs and access to care services and/or assistive technology. , Access to the comprehensive services, Access to the comprehensive services needed throughout life, such as care services, education, vocational training, support with employment and generating income. , Equitable access to support and benefits, An inclusive social protection system guarantees equitable access to support and benefits for all children with disabilities, considering specific needs based on age, gender, and ethnicity., First 1,000 days, For families of children who are born with disabilities or are at risk of developmental delays, early identification and support are critical to ensure that children thrive. Their right to immunization, accessible and affordable health care and community-based services is essential. Their ability to enjoy recreational activities, playgrounds and…, Early education and care, Participation in quality early education and care supports children’s social and emotional development and learning and helps support a smooth transition to school. Drawing of a teacher handing a hearing aid to a student. Inclusive learning From preschool onwards, children with disabilities must have support from qualified teachers and teacher…, Inclusive Education, Inclusive education ensures that children with disabilities participate fully in learning. They need to be provided with equal learning opportunities in a safe, protective environment that embraces their diversity and accommodates their needs. These environments also need to support their wellbeing, helping them thrive and participate fully in…

One of the cheapest, easiest, and most important ways you can keep your child safe from disease is to get them to wash their hands frequently. Here are some tips on how to turn handwashing into a healthy habit for life:  , 1. Explain the benefits of handwashing, Let your child know that washing hands can keep them safe from bacteria and viruses that can make them and others around them sick. Teach them about how even though germs are invisible, they could still be there. Explain to them that regular handwashing is as important as brushing your teeth or eating a healthy meal.  , 2. Demonstrate the correct steps of handwashing, Explain that to eliminate all traces of infection-causing bacteria on your hands, a quick scrub and rinse isn’t enough. Here’s a step-by-step guide for effective handwashing: Step 1: Wet hands with running water Step 2: Apply enough soap to cover wet hands Step 3: Scrub all surfaces of the hands – including back of hands, between fingers and under…, 3. How long should you wash hands?, Hands should be washed with soap for at least 20-30 seconds. An easy way to time this is by singing the full “happy birthday” song, twice. The same goes if using hand sanitizer: Use a sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol and rub it into your hands for at least 20 seconds to ensure full coverage. Remember: hand sanitizer can be toxic if…, 4. Set the times they should be washing their hands, Your child should wash their hands frequently throughout the day. Here are some of the times you should always wash your hands: When hands are visibly dirty  Before and after eating After using the toilet After touching animals and pets After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing  , 5. Turn it into a fun family activity, Here are some ways you can help children wash their hands by making handwashing easier and fun for them:, Did you know?, 1. Is warm or cold water better?, You can use any temperature of water to wash your hands. Cold water and warm water are equally effective at killing germs and viruses – as long as you use soap!  , 2. Is drying hands important?, Germs spread more easily from wet skin than from dry skin, so drying your hands completely is an important step. Paper towels or clean cloths are the most effective way to remove germs without spreading them to other surfaces.  , 3. Soap and water or hand sanitizer – which is better?, In general, both handwashing with soap and water and hand sanitizer, when done correctly, are highly effective at killing most germs and pathogens. But if your hands look dirty, you should wash them with soap and water. Although hand sanitizer is often more convenient when you are outside of the home, it is less effective on visibly dirty hands.…

Women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate change. On this International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction, UNICEF and IFRC call on governments and partners to ensure that emergency and disaster preparedness plans integrate gender specific needs assessments and those responding to climate change-related disasters and emergencies are…

Girls in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are advancing in male-dominated fields by creating innovations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through building satellites, programming early warning systems and engineering software. Bringing solutions in STEM, girls across Central Asia are helping…

GENEVA/YEREVAN, Armenia, 10 October 2023 – Refugee children arriving in Armenia are showing signs of severe psychological distress, according to reports from UNICEF-supported social workers providing specialised care to children and families who have fled their homes in recent weeks. Social workers operating in two safe spaces that UNICEF…

On the picturesque banks of the river in Horenka village near Kyiv, 14-year-old Nelya gazes into the distance while her 13-year-old sister Lilya braids her hair. Today, the girls have dressed in colourful vyshyvankas and come to the river to take photos and cheer themselves up. Over a year and a half into the full-scale war, days like these help…

Today, five-year-old sisters Eva and Milana have an appointment with their ‘therapist’ at a metro station in Kharkiv, a city in northeast Ukraine. The therapist is just nine years old and her name is Julie. She is a golden retriever who has been helping children in Kharkiv overcome stress since the beginning of the full-scale war. As soon as Eva…, Helping children heal, Eva and Milana arrived in Kharkiv with their parents after fleeing Kherson, where intense fighting is taking place. The girls have cats and a dog back home.  Eva misses her pets and loves to spend time with the animals at the Spilno Child Spot.  "The dog's name is Snizhok (‘ snowball’) because he is snow-white and fluffy,” she says, sadly. Eva…, Finding safety underground, Lately, the fighting in Kharkiv has become intense again. Air raid sirens sound several times a day, each time causing distress for children, who desperately need a safe place to shelter. Last night, Victoria and her seven-year-old daughter Adelina barely slept. "There was huge shelling at night,” says Victoria, who did not hesitate to come to the…, Overcoming stress and sadness, Trainer Natalia has lived in Kharkiv since the very first days of the full-scale war. While hiding in the metro with her family, she noticed how depressed the children around her were. She then came up with the idea to organise dog classes as therapy. "The first class was difficult both for me and my dogs,” she recalls. “Severe shelling occurred…

In 2022, 35,170 children sought refuge, peace and better opportunities in six countries across Europe including Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain. Their journeys to Europe involved crossing difficult, dangerous and sometimes deadly routes across the Mediterranean and Atlantic, and through the Western Balkans. While traveling these…, Accompanied and unaccompanied children, More than two-thirds of children – or 23,5000 – arriving to Europe in 2022 were unaccompanied or separated, meaning that they traveled alone without their parents or legal guardians. A quarter of children arriving alone in Europe were under the age of 15. The ages of children travelling alone vary across countries, nearly half of children arriving…, Lesvos, Greece, UNICEF works on the ground on the Greek island of Lesvos. Migrant families entering Europe stop at Kara Tepe camp. Lesvos, Greece UNICEF/UN0359280 On the Greek island of Lesvos, Manija, 13, washes clothing on the shore at Kara Tepe camp, temporary shelter for those displaced by a fire that destroyed Moria Reception and Identification Center UNICEF…, Lampedusa, Italy, Lampedusa, Italy UNICEF/UNI443168/Antonioli For the Central Mediterranean Route, this Summer was particularly deadly. On a small island of Lampedusa in the south of Italy, UNICEF is on the ground at the first port of call along this route providing essential protection services including mental health and psychosocial support, access to…

Some 35,170 children arrived in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain. Of these, 23,514  or 67% were unaccompanied or separated children. This is 46% higher than the total number of arrivals in 2021. Of these children 18% were girls and 82% were boys. Some 12,300 children or 52% of the total, were in resettlement procedures in Europe in…