Born from the ashes of World War II
On 11 December 1946, UNICEF was founded as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, created to deliver lifesaving food and medicine to children devastated by World War II. What was intended as a temporary relief effort quickly revealed itself as an indispensable force in global humanitarian work.
The moment UNICEF founded its mission, the world was confronted with a simple truth: millions of children in post-war Europe and Asia would not survive without coordinated international support.
From emergency aid to long-term transformation
Within just a few years, UNICEF expanded beyond crisis relief. The organisation began supporting vaccination campaigns, nutritional programmes and education initiatives, evolving from short-term emergency action into a long-term guardian of children’s rights.
By 1953, the UN General Assembly made UNICEF a permanent part of the UN system, cementing its role in addressing not only the aftermath of war but the ongoing challenges of disease, poverty and inequality.
A global force for child survival
Few institutions have changed the trajectory of childhood as profoundly as UNICEF.
Its immunisation campaigns saved tens of millions of lives. Its promotion of oral rehydration therapy became one of the most impactful medical interventions of the 20th century. Its work in clean water access, emergency response, child protection and education now reaches over 190 countries.
The legacy of UNICEF founded in 1946 is visible in almost every modern discussion of global child welfare.
A lasting legacy of hope and responsibility
When UNICEF was founded, the world was trying to rebuild. In doing so, it also redefined its responsibilities toward children — not just within national borders, but everywhere.
The organisation’s birth remains one of the clearest examples of post-war reconstruction giving rise to a moral commitment that still shapes global policy today: that every child, regardless of conflict or circumstance, deserves protection and the chance to thrive.
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