Lucia Elmi

@LelmiU recently visited @ZaatariCamp, which continues to be home to thousands of Syrian refugees. She witnessed the lifesaving support UNICEF and partners are delivering to children and families, including education, water, sanitation, and hygiene and child protection services.

All of us at UNICEF are devastated and outraged by the killing of our colleague Karine Buisset in a reported drone attack in Goma, DRC. My immediate thoughts are with the family, loved ones & colleagues across UNICEF. Civilians, including aid workers, must never be targeted.

On Monday, I visited a school in Jericho. It once served 140 children from nearby Bedouin communities. Now classrooms are empty as families had to leave due to repeated violence. Children’s right to learn must be protected.

Safe spaces to learn - this is what children in Gaza need again! UNICEF and partners have launched a critical Back to Learning programme so children like 13-year-old Jana don’t lose access to learning anymore. Share this video to echo UNICEF Spokesperson @1james_elder: “Let’s get kids in Gaza back to school.”

I’m humbled by the courage and commitment of @UNICEF teams, and deeply moved by the children’s energy and resilience.

Malnutrition continues to impact children across the #GazaStrip. @UNICEF is prioritizing life-saving treatment, prevention and sustained support to restore essential services. While life-saving treatment & assistance are reaching families, more is urgently needed!

Conflict. Displacement. Public health emergencies. Disasters. Children’s lives are being shaped by forces far beyond their control. UNICEF is calling for predictable, flexible and multi-year funding to help every child survive, be safe and thrive. unicef.link/4ovC1a3

War and instability. Famine and malnutrition. Climate shocks. Collapse of essential services.  Children’s lives are being shaped by forces far beyond their control. By strengthening preparedness and planning ahead, UNICEF can respond quicker when emergencies hit. But this is only possible through predictable, flexible and multi-year funding. Learn more: unicef.link/3Mfp6Mg

The gap between humanitarian needs & resources is widening at the very moment children need us most. The ask here is simple. It’s for what any child wants. Basic decency, food & safety. Let’s work together to make the world a better place for children.👇 unicef.org/press-releases…

“In Ma’arrat An Nu’man in Syria, the scars of conflict are still visible, but so is the resilience of families and children who are determined to return home,” said Lucia Elmi, UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes. With nearly 1.2 million people returning back to Syria, determined to rebuild their lives, see what Lucia Elmi has witnessed. #ForEveryChild #UNICEF #Syria @LelmiU @MandeepOBrien @RelanoMeritxell @DouglasNobleMD @UNICEFmena @UNICEFEMOPS @UNinSyria

The delegation met with children and young people, saw firsthand UNICEF’s impact on the ground, and held key discussions with partners & senior officials, underscoring UNICEF’s unwavering commitment to deliver #ForEveryChild. @UNICEF @UNICEFmena @UNICEFEMOPS @UNinSyria @UNICEFGulf

Ms. Elmi’s visit is part of a high-level UNICEF mission to #Aleppo, #Idleb and Damascus in Syria, accompanied by @MandeepOBrien, @DouglasNobleMD, @RelanoMeritxell and team.

“I witnessed how deeply the conflict scarred #children,” said @LelmiU, UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes during a senior level visit to #Syria. “For the first time in decades, Syria stands at a historic crossroads, one that carries new hope for its #children & young people.”

Met with Minister Hind Kabawat to reaffirm our shared commitment to strengthening Syria's national social protection system. Delighted our cash for nutrition+ programme has reached 1.2M people in Syria. With partners, we're ready to support @SyMOSAAL & enhance #Social_Cohesion.

The news of a possible deal in Gaza brings much-needed and long-overdue hope. Every opportunity to stop the horrific deaths and suffering of children, return the hostages and ensure full humanitarian aid must be seized-lives depend on it.

Children in besieged Al Fasher, in North Darfur, face constant deadly threats. Today’s strike on a mosque that reportedly killed dozens, including children, and a drone attack on a UNICEF-supported water truck are just the latest incidents. Children in Sudan must be protected.

Famine is now a grim reality for children in Gaza Governorate, and a looming threat in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis. There is no time to lose. Without an immediate ceasefire and full humanitarian access, famine will spread, and more children will die. unicef.link/3JKqkO4

“The message was loud and clear - children in Bukavu need peace.” UNICEF’s Lucia Elmi reflects on UNICEF’s response amid the ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo and what children really need.

#Goma, #DRC. With @LelmiU, we saw signs of basic services resuming. With @UNICEFDRC’s support, schools, health centers and the hospital have reopened in Sake, Shasha and Kirotshe, and chlorination points were installed to prevent cholera. Still, needs remain immense!

Today @LelmiU UNICEF’s Director Emergency Programmes, @JeremyUNICEF UNICEF Deputy Regional Director, Eastern & Southern Africa, @johnunicef @UNICEFDRC Representative, with @UNHCRuganda + @WFP_Uganda teams,were at Nyakabande transit centre to assess joint #refugeeresponse efforts.