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A PACKET OF HOPE
"This isn't just therapeutic food, it's hope in a packet. It's a second chance at life.”
-Liam Neeson, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
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The malnutrition crisis
Sudan is now facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
Conflict has forced families from their homes, destroyed services, and pushed communities to the brink. In some areas, famine has already been confirmed.
In crises like these, children are among the hardest hit.
For children with severe malnutrition, their bodies become extremely weak. They are more vulnerable to infections and take longer to recover from even common illnesses. Parents see their children losing weight and strength, knowing that without treatment, they may not survive.
“They don’t sleep at night because they’re hungry,” says Zahra, a mother from Sudan
Her eldest daughter, Farisha, is extremely weak; even simple movements are a struggle.
At a UNICEF-supported nutrition centre, Zahra and her children received critical nutrition support and supplies, including ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) for the children.
“At least now my children have a chance,” she says.
Your support helps UNICEF provide life-saving supplies and support to children like Farisha.
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Why UNICEF?
UNICEF procures an estimated 80 per cent of RUTF to treat children from dangerous malnutrition.
That means when you donate to UNICEF, you’re supporting a system that already reaches millions of children:
- In 2024, UNICEF and partners screened more than 250 million children under 5 for wasting.
- Over 9.3 million children received treatment for severe wasting and other forms of severe acute malnutrition.
And yet, current funding still only reaches a fraction of the children who need critical treatment for malnutrition.
Your donation helps close that gap.
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What your support helps do
Detect children early
Training community health workers to screen children for signs of wasting so treatment starts before it’s too late.
Deliver life-saving treatment
Supplying health centres and mobile clinics with RUTF and other essential nutrition supplies.
Reach children in crisis
Getting RUTF into conflict zones, displacement camps and hard-to-reach communities where food and healthcare are scarce.
Strengthen local supply
Working with partners and local manufacturers in several countries to secure and expand RUTF production so treatment is available when emergencies hit and prices rise.
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Be the reason a packet of hope is there on time
War, famine, poverty and natural disasters are putting children in danger every single day.
With help from people like you, UNICEF teams are:
- Treating children with severe acute malnutrition
- Supporting caregivers with practical infant and young child feeding advice
- Providing emergency primary health care services
- Helping families access safe water
Your regular support means we can reach more children, faster, when their need is greatest.
Frequently Asked Questions
UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund, working to protect and promote the rights of every child, everywhere. We work to help the most vulnerable with health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more.
Thanks to support from donors like you, we have been able to make a difference for children in need, to save, nurture, and protect the most vulnerable. We are active in over 190 countries and territories and have helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization.
You can choose to securely make a one-time or monthly donation online, by clicking the Donation button.
To contribute to a fundamental change in the lives of vulnerable children, the longer you choose to get involved, the more powerful your donation will be.
Vulnerable children’s lives can be improved with your constant support. By donating, you become an active part of the solution and of the change process.
The money raised is used where it is needed for vulnerable children. For example, to provide free access to specialized services for vulnerable children in Romania or offer a rapid and effective response to children affected by wars and natural disasters.
UNICEF asks for monthly contributions to help us provide sustainable long-term solutions to help children around the world.
Please note that the stories of children and price point descriptions mentioned (if any) are to illustrate activities and the impact your donation can make on the lives of vulnerable children from Romania and around the world. UNICEF, based on the needs on the ground, will allocate resources to areas that need funds the most.
A monthly gift is a recurring gift amount that you choose to send each month, and it is even more impactful because you're helping children every single day.
Your monthly gift will also enable us to plan effectively in our upcoming work, reduce costs and most importantly, reach even more children in need. The support and generosity of monthly donors contribute significantly to UNICEF efforts to help vulnerable children.
We will be sending you regular updates about UNICEF’s work for children in Romania and around the world.
Don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected] and we will be happy to assist you.
Donating online through the website is just as safe as any other online payment. UNICEF does not have access to your bank card details as that information is secured and protected by the payment processor. UNICEF has access only to the contact details you provide in the donation form: name, surname, e-mail and phone number.