children

Mogadishu (AX) — In the bustling streets of Somalia's capital, a significant initiative quietly unfolds, marked by the colorful presence of health workers armed with life-saving vials. With palpable determination, the Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services, bolstered by global allies like WHO, UNICEF, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, has embarked on a crucial four-day polio vaccination campaign. Their mission? To immunize 2.5 million children under the tender age of five against a persistent adversary:…

Baidoa (AX) — In a turn of events that can only be described as harrowing yet hopeful, the security forces in Somalia's South West State have succeeded in rescuing four children, much to the relief of their anguished families. These children—each tender and impressionable—found themselves in the clutches of the notorious Al-Shabaab, a scourge force bent on enlisting them into their militant ranks as child soldiers. Can one truly grasp the enormity of such a violation? Local authorities announced this heartening news on…

In the heart of a dusty camp, shadows of desperation mingle with faint whispers of hope. Among these whispers, the devastating account of Hawo emerges—a narrative wrapped in heartache and punctuated by grim reality. "My child," she shared with a trembling voice, "suffered from watery diarrhoea. When he needed help the most, I couldn't afford even the most basic medical care. We had nothing, absolutely nothing to offer, and in my helplessness, I lost him." Hawo's story is one of countless others in these makeshift…

FILE - On May 31, 2024, observers noted temporary shelters near Awlala Camp in Ethiopia's Amhara region. UNICEF announced on January 7, 2025, that a staggering 4.4 million children in Amhara are out of school, a consequence of disasters and unrest. (Photo by Alfatih Alsemari via Reuters) Across Ethiopia, an unsettling reality unfolds: over nine million young ones are absent from classrooms due to violence, conflicts, and the havoc wreaked by Mother Nature. The United Nations reveals that more than 6,000 institutions for…

The education crisis in Ethiopia is strikingly grim, with over 9 million children unable to attend school, a staggering figure revealed by UNICEF, a respected global advocate for children's welfare.ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- UNICEF has taken the spotlight by disclosing that throughout Ethiopia, a disturbing number of over 9 million children find themselves out of the educational fold. This alarming development is attributed to both human-induced conflicts and Mother Nature's unpredictable actions.A recent report from…

In recent months, the Amara region of Ethiopia has witnessed a surge in drone attacks, bringing severe consequences to its residents (Photo: SM/file). Tragically, a drone strike in the Shoa area of the Amhara region claimed the lives of two children, aged eight and nine, and an elderly woman. Another woman suffered severe injuries during the attack. Reports from Ethiopian Media Service (EMS) revealed the grievous circumstances, emphasizing that the wounded woman remains in critical condition. Fano Mintesnot, the head of…

Gaza's civil defense authorities reported that a recent Israeli attack claimed the lives of 30 individuals, including 13 children, following strikes on two homes in the northern region of the Palestinian territory. The first airstrike occurred early today in Jabalia, a northern Gaza town, where initial reports indicated "at least 25" fatalities, among them the 13 children. More than 30 individuals sustained injuries, as noted by the civil defense. Since October 6, the Israeli military has unleashed a relentless…

Dr. Ubah Farah, a fervent advocate for UNICEF Somalia, underscored the profound impact of this national endeavor to eliminate polio. "This initiative is a lifeline for vaccinating children against polio," Farah expressed. She emphasized that such initiatives are pivotal in public health, aiming to wipe out the poliovirus and stymie its spread. The campaign kicked off in central and southern Somalia, with plans to gradually include the semiautonomous state of Northeastern State and the self-declared region of Somaliland.…

Government pathologist officers walk outside Hillside Endarasha Academy, after a tragic blaze claimed and maimed several students, in Kieni, Nyeri County, Kenya, on September 7th, 2024. Kenya has declared three days of national mourning beginning Monday, following a devastating blaze at a central boarding school that left at least 21 students dead. Heartbroken parents and relatives converged at Naromoru hospital for DNA tests, four days after the fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy rendered some victims unrecognizable. The…

In Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, almost a thousand children live on the streets. Mostly aged 8 to 15 years, they are left to themselves for various reasons. Befa Centro, a Central African musician based in Chevilly-Larue in France,…