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Why it matters

For children to grow up healthy and happy, they need access to clean water, proper sanitation, and good hygiene. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are basic human rights, that UNICEF is working to uphold for every child.

It's about health - a lack of these things causes diseases that kill over 800 children every day. It's about time - millions of children miss out on an education because they spend hours every day collecting water. And it's about fairness - the most vulnerable children are often the worst affected.

UNICEF is determined to change this. We're working with governments in more than 113 countries to build WASH systems that last. We lead the response in emergencies, coordinating humanitarian organisations and governments, to provide life-saving supplies and support. And as our climate changes, we're helping communities to be prepared for future challenges.

6/10

6 in 10 people worldwide, or 4.5 billion, lack safely managed sanitation

Keeping children safe in Nigeria with clean water and emergency toilets

Help us reach more children with clean water, proper sanitation and good hygiene

Building systems that last

We're working to ensure children can access safe water, sanitation and hygiene throughout childhood, in their homes, schools, health facilities and communities.

In 2017, we helped install WASH facilities in more than 8,000 schools and 1,500 health-care centres. That means more children able to learn and receive medical care without risking disease. In places like South Sudan, we're using solar power to transform water access for the most remote communities.

And we empower people with information - about hand-washing, menstrual hygiene and waste disposal. By developing infrastructure and understanding, we're working to progressively improve WASH services around the world, so that children and their families can thrive.

60 million

By 2021, we're aiming for 60 million more people worldwide to have access to clean drinking water

Providing off-grid communities in South Sudan with access to clean water

Help us reach more communities with clean water, proper sanitation and good hygiene

WASH is about fairness

Vulnerable groups of children, are often the worst affected by lack of properWASH services. When there aren't proper facilities near their homes, girls have to make long, dangerous journeys, often at night, just to go to the toilet. And when they don't have access to separate bathrooms at school, attendance drops and they miss out on education.

A lack of proper WASH for girls in schools is one of the main factors stopping 9 million girls in sub-Saharan Africa from learning to read and write. We work to uphold the right of all children to health, safety and education.

Our work in Zambia is enabling more girls to go to school

WASH in emergencies

During conflict and disasters, children often lose access to safe water and a clean environment. Whenever this occurs we lead the response, coordinating humanitarian organisations and governments, to rapidly provide life-saving supplies and support.

Last year, over one million Rohingya, two thirds of them children, fled violence in Myanmar. They had no choice but to take shelter in overcrowded, makeshift settlements, in swampy terrain in Bangladesh. The risk of waterborne diseases in these conditions is extremely high.

UNICEF was on hand immediately, trucking in life-saving clean water and providing water purification tablets. We're also helping to build wells and water treatment plants, and carrying out hygiene education activities. All to ensure the long term safety of Rohingya families, in what is now the largest refugee camp in the world.

Water and children in a changing climate

Our planet's climate is changing, causing erratic weather and rising sea levels. The quality and quantity of water, that children rely on for survival, is under threat. By 2040, 1 in 4 children will live in areas with extremely high water stress.

Recently in Bangladesh, we've seen floods deprive children of a safe environment and cause water-borne diseases. Droughts in East Africa have forced children to walk long distances in search of water. And, in the Pacific, rising sea levels are causing salt water to infiltrate water supplies, making them undrinkable.

We're protecting children's access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, now and for the future. We help to develop technologies, like drought-resistant deep wells and flood-resistant toilets. And we're working with governments to make sure children are at the heart of climate discussions and decisions.

YOU CAN HELP US REACH MORE CHILDREN WITH CLEAN WATER, PROPER SANITATION AND GOOD HYGIENE

A monthly gift from you can help us continue saving and improving children's lives, now and in the future.

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Good water, sanitation and hygiene for every child - Unicef UK

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For children to grow up healthy and happy, they need access to clean water, proper sanitation, and good hygiene. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are basic human rights, that UNICEF is working to uphold for every child. It's about health - a lack of these things causes diseases that kill over 800 children every day.

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The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is a relief fund established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946.

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UNICEF was established to provide relief and support to children in urgent and dangerous situations.
Providing food, clothing and health care to the children of Europe after World war II

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UNICEF's activities can be divided into four main groups

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1. Protecting children from situations of violence, exploitation and abuse.
2. Preventing child deaths and development problems.
3.Supporting basic education and gender equality.
4.Providing humanitarian aid in crisis and emergency.

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A video of UNICEF about children
Facing a nutrition crisis

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Children are facing a nutrition crisis | UNICEF

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'' You may be one person but collectively we have an influence ''

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For children everywhere

What does it mean to campaign with Unicef?

From the global refugee crisis to air pollution in the UK, children around the world are at the greatest risk when there's danger.

We campaign to stand up for children's rights, but we can only do it with your support. Whether it's signing petitions, telling your MP to act, sharing our stories with your friends or raising awareness locally, these are the actions that win campaigns and help keep children safe.

Does campaigning work?

At Unicef, we've done more to influence laws and policies to protect children than anyone else - we know that campaigning can make a difference.

Earlier this year, the UK Government announced that the UK will sign the Safe Schools Declaration - a political commitment which protects schools, students and teacher from attack in areas affected by conflict. We have been calling for the Government to sign up to the declaration since the run up to the World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016, and thanks to the support of over 170,000 members of the public, ambassadors, business leaders, and hundreds of schools across the UK we are delighted to see that this change has been achieved for children. With this declaration in place, not only does this send a clear message out to Governments about the importance of education in emergencies, but also more children affected by war will be able to learn and play in safety.

And how can you get involved?

Protecting children from toxic air

You can't see it but in the UK there is a dangerous threat to children's health: toxic air. One in three children are growing up in parts of the UK with hazardous levels of toxic air, which has a devastating impact on their health.

Babies and young children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of toxic air because their bodies are in critical stages of development yet the harmful levels of air pollution in the UK are predicted to remain for another 12 years, until 2030.
Find out more about our work protecting children from air pollution
The UK Government's current strategy on air pollution is not ambitious enough, nor does it prioritise action for children. This poses a direct threat to a child's right to health in the UK.

We know the UK Government has the power to put children's health at the heart of it's work on air pollution and we need your help to make sure this happens.

Add your name today and show the Government that we all care about every child's breath under threat.

71%

In the UK alone, 71% of towns and cities have unsafe levels of air pollution

Add your name to protect children from deadly toxic air

Take action

Reuniting refugee children with their families

Around the world, whole communities are on the move and children are the worst affected. Right now, children are being forced to make dangerous journeys to Europe to reach their family in the UK.

We have been calling on the UK Government to change the definition of family within the UK's refugee family reunion law to allow unaccompanied children to safely join their parents, grandparents, adult siblings, aunts and uncles in the UK, rather than making these dangerous journeys to reach Europe.

There has been progress, and the Government has committed to negotiate with the EU to remain in Dublin III after Brexit. However, while we welcome a negotiating position, we still do not have safe and legal routes for refugee children to join their family in the UK. The UK can easily fix this by amending the Immigration Rules - a simple change to UK law - rather than needing to wait for the EU.

We're continuing to work with the Government to make this change.

Other ways you can get involved in our campaigns

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For children everywhere From the global refugee crisis to air pollution in the UK, children around the world are at the greatest risk when there's danger. We campaign to stand up for children's rights, but we can only do it with your support.

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Provide necessary food for children
Bringing education and knowledge to children
Immunization and prevention of socks for children
Ensuring children's rights around the world