Global Annual Results Report 2021: Humanitarian action
Progress, results achieved and lessons from 2021 in UNICEF humanitarian action
A record number of people globally – 235 million – required humanitarian assistance in 2021, a number that is expected to rise to 274 million in 2022.
2021 was a year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict, poverty, malnutrition and climate change as the key drivers of needs for humanitarian assistance. In this challenging context, we were able to respond and achieve critical results despite logistical challenges, limited humanitarian access and complexity of crises.
In humanitarian contexts
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gained access to safe water |
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were treated for severe acute malnutrition |
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accessed mental health and psychosocial support |
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were vaccinated against measles |
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accessed some form of education |
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accessed gender-based violence risk mitigation, prevention, or response intervention |
UNICEF humanitarian action in 2021
UNICEF responded in 153 countries to 483 new or ongoing humanitarian crises. Altogether, UNICEF responded to 104 natural disasters, 84 socio-political crises, 226 health emergencies (including the COVID-19 pandemic response), 27 nutrition crises and 42 other critical situations.
Key results from humanitarian responses
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Ethiopia: More than 521,800 children under 5 years with severe acute malnutrition were admitted to treatment |
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Yemen: More than 5.8 million conflict-affected people accessed explosive weapons-related and mine-risk risk education and survivor assistance interventions |
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Central Sahel: 554 children were released from armed forces and groups and reintegrated with their families/communities |
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Madagascar: More than 8,000 households (covering 22,500 children) benefited from humanitarian cash transfers |
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Haiti: More than 433,000 individuals including displaced and host community people, gained access to safe and accessible channels for reporting sexual exploitation and abuse (89 per cent of the target) |
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Afghanistan: More than 1 million children affected by COVID-19 school closures accessed formal or non-formal education, including early learning |
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Myanmar: More than 629,000 people were reached with critical WASH supplies - including hygiene items - and services (exceeding the target) |
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Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: More than 340,000 children aged 0-12 months were vaccinated against measles (64 per cent of the target) |
With thanks
This report highlights the achievements made possible by the generous contributions received from various partners. UNICEF would like to express its sincere appreciation for these contributions.
In addition, UNICEF is grateful to all resource partners that contributed to global humanitarian thematic funding in 2021 and for their commitment to quality funding for UNICEF’s critical humanitarian interventions.
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Highlights
Around 235 million people globally required humanitarian assistance in 2021. For children, this alarming reality meant being malnourished, missing school, lacking clean water to drink or adequate facilities for hygiene and living at risk of violence. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused some of these harms and exacerbated existing challenges.
With its partners, including Governments, UNICEF provided an array of services and support for children and families in humanitarian crises:
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Clean water and sanitation for 41.7 million people
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Treatment of severe acute malnutrition for 5 million children
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UNICEF led procurement and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines as procurement coordinator for the COVAX Facility, which delivered 958 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to 144 countries
These results for children were made possible by the $2.96 billion in humanitarian funding UNICEF received in 2021.
This report presents an overview of how UNICEF responded to save lives and help emergency-affected children and families to realize their rights in 2021. It describes key challenges and how UNICEF plans to apply the lessons learned to future humanitarian response.
