27 January 2009: The 2009 Humanitarian Action Report was launched in Geneva, Switzerland, by UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Ann Veneman and UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Director Sigrid Kaag. The Report highlights the plight of children and women around the globe in humanitarian emergencies, such as conflict situations and natural disasters.

The Report outlines UNICEF’s ongoing and proposed actions to deal with the humanitarian emergencies described, and the funding required for these actions. It also highlights the effect of climate change on women and children, noting that higher food prices and climate change have negatively affected most of the countries for which emergency aid is sought. Some of the measures to be taken to deal with climate change are outlined, such as disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness.
The Humanitarian Action Report is UNICEF’s annual appeal for children and women affected by emergencies around the world. The 2009 edition seeks over US$1 billion to support UNICEF-assisted emergency response and comprises 36 countries in the six UNICEF regions. [UNICEF Press Release , 26 January 2009] [UNICEF Press Release, 27 January 2009] [The Report]