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September 15, 2025 Peace and security

Ukraine has been ranked first in the world in terms of the number of annual victims of cluster munitions for the third year in a row. Since February 2022, more than 1,200 deaths caused by the use of this type of weapon have been registered in the country. This is stated in the report of the Coalition Against Cluster Munitions, which was presented on Monday by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR).

According to the data provided in the report, in 2024, 314 cases of death or injury as a result of the use of cluster munitions were recorded worldwide. The real number is likely to be significantly higher, as many cases are not documented. In Ukraine alone, about 40 attacks using cluster munitions were recorded in 2024, while the exact number of casualties is unknown.

Cluster munition fatalities were reported in nine countries last year: Afghanistan, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Mauritania, Myanmar, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen. All of these countries, except Myanmar, also reported new casualties from cluster munition remnants in 2024.

Victims of direct cluster munition attacks have been recorded in three countries – Myanmar, Syria and Ukraine. All of these states are not parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Of the total number of recorded casualties in 2024, 257 were directly affected by attacks and 57 by cluster munition remnants.

Deadly weapon

Launched from the ground or from aircraft, cluster munitions explode in the air, dispersing small explosive devices over a wide area. Victims suffer serious injuries from blasts and burns, and unexploded bombs often remain on the battlefield long after the conflict has ended.

Cluster munitions and their remnants continue to disproportionately affect civilians. All recorded casualties in 2024 were civilians. Children accounted for 42 percent of all recorded casualties.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine are parties to the 2008 Convention banning cluster munitions, which currently includes 112 countries.

“Earlier this year, Lithuania became the first state to withdraw from the Convention on Conventional Cluster Munitions,” said Orsin Hoffman, a senior researcher at UNIDIR. “Fortunately, no other state withdrew, but since then four other northern and eastern European states have announced their intention to withdraw from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty – Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Poland.”

Reports of Ukraine using cluster bombs

Ukraine reportedly began using U.S.-supplied 155mm artillery shells within weeks of announcing their receipt in July 2023, the report says. Social media posts show purported Russian soldiers holding what appear to be unexploded cluster munitions. Media coverage of Ukrainian artillery units in combat confirms the use of shells with markings indicating U.S. production in the 1980s and 1990s.

Since March 2022, Russian authorities have repeatedly reported on Ukraine's use of cluster munitions in the occupied territories, primarily in the Donetsk region, but so far these reports have not been accompanied by confirmed facts.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported that while not all incidents could be verified, in a number of cases the imagery examined was consistent with the use of cluster munitions. One such incident occurred on 31 January 2025, when at least six civilians in Horlivka, Donetsk region, were reportedly injured by cluster munitions.

The report cites allegations that Ukraine has used ATACMS ballistic missiles with cluster warheads to strike targets inside Russia and in areas under Russian control, but there is no official confirmation of these claims. The Ukrainian Armed Forces posted a video on their Telegram channel that allegedly showed the use of cluster munitions in the Kursk region of Russia in August 2024. In September 2024, a Russian serviceman posted an image on Telegram of an unexploded ATACMS missile and its warhead with cluster submunitions, but did not indicate the exact location where the remains were found.

Russian officials and state media claim that Ukrainian forces are using cluster munitions on Russian territory. From August 2024 to July 2025, there were at least 25 reports of alleged cluster munition attacks from Ukraine.

Reports of Russian use of cluster bombs

Russia continued to strike civilians in densely populated urban areas of Ukraine with cluster munitions in the second half of 2024 and the first half of 2025, according to local authorities, media reports and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the report says.

“Russia has used cluster munitions extensively since the beginning of the conflict,” said Orsin Hoffman. “Russia first recorded use of cluster munitions in February 2024, and continues to strike civilian areas and residential buildings. The strikes recorded during the reporting period have killed dozens of civilians and injured hundreds.”

In 2025, submunitions with Korean markings were found in Ukrainian-controlled territory, but the report's authors note that it is unclear whether they were used by North Korean forces participating in joint military operations with Russia, or whether they were part of cluster munitions acquired by Russia from North Korea and used by Russian forces.

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September 15, 2025 Healthcare

The next pandemic or other health emergency is inevitable, it’s just a question of when, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned in his speech at the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement, stressing the importance of finalizing the landmark document.

He recalled that work on the Agreement began during the pandemic Covid-19, when serious shortcomings in ensuring global sanitary and epidemiological security became apparent. Since then, according to Ghebreyesus, the world has made significant progress. This Friday, September 19, amendments to the International Health Regulations adopted by the World Health Assembly last year will come into force.

Countries of the world adopted the first ever international agreement, aimed at better preventing, preparing for and responding to future pandemics, at the World Health Assembly in May this year after three years of negotiations. The WHO Director-General called it “a truly landmark event in the lifetime of this generation.”

“It is now your duty to complete this historic work by finalizing, as mandated by the World Health Assembly, the system for ensuring access to pathogens and benefit-sharing,” he told the working group members.

According to him, the goal remains the adoption of the Annex on Access to Pandemic Potential Pathogens (APPP) by the World Health Assembly in May next year – followed by the signature and ratification of the Agreement on Combating Pandemics by Member States.

“Every country should be interested in avoiding further delays in the process,” the head of WHO noted.

He stressed that the next pandemic or major global health emergency “will definitely happen, it’s just a question of when.” It is vital, the WHO chief continued, that by the next session of the UN General Assembly, the annex on the APRP is adopted by the World Health Assembly and the Pandemic Agreement is open for signature and ratification.

Ghebreyesus expressed confidence that the working group is capable of overcoming differences, reaching a compromise and completing the process within the established time frame.

"Let's finish this historic agreement. Let's finish what we started, because without the annex, the Agreement on Combating Pandemics will be incomplete," the WHO Director-General concluded.

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September 15, 2025 Peace and security

The situation in Yemen remains extremely tense amid escalating regional violence and arbitrary detentions of UN staff, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the country Hans Grundberg told the Security Council on Monday.

“The recent wave of arbitrary detentions of 22 United Nations staff in Sanaa and Hodeida represents a flagrant escalation by Ansar Allah against the UN,” he stressed, adding that more than 40 staff remain in detention and one of those detained has died.

Grundberg said such actions, including the violent seizure of UN premises and property, "threaten the very ability of the Organization to facilitate peace efforts and provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Yemen."

The rapporteur also added that in addition to UN staff, thousands of Yemenis are detained as a result of the conflict. He expressed solidarity with all those arbitrarily detained and reiterated his call for their immediate and unconditional release.

Regional conflict

Stressing the need for "an inclusive political process, nationwide economic reforms and a ceasefire," he called on the conflicting parties to return to negotiations.

At the same time, the Special Envoy noted that the situation in the country is inextricably linked to regional dynamics. "The unresolved conflict in Yemen is like a fault line that sends tremors beyond its borders and intensifies regional conflicts," he said. According to him, without stability in Yemen, there can be no stability in the region and vice versa – the situation in the region determines how events will develop in the country.

Against this backdrop, Grundberg added, the war in Gaza is accompanied by an “alarming and dangerous intensification of hostilities between Ansar Allah and Israel.” The Houthis continue to strike Israel, causing harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure. In response, Israeli airstrikes were recorded in August and September on Sanaa and other areas under the control of Ansar Allah. In particular, the strikes on August 28 claimed the lives of high-ranking members of the movement, some of whom were in contact with the Special Envoy’s office. “This cycle of escalation must end,” Grundberg noted.

Mass famine

In turn, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher reminded members of the Security Council that Yemen is among the three countries with the worst food situation in the world.

“Another million people will be on the brink of extreme hunger by February next year, in addition to the 17 million Yemenis who already lack food,” he warned. More than 70 percent of households, he said, are unable to meet their daily food needs.

Fletcher said humanitarian efforts included distributing food and essential supplies, as well as supporting water and health facilities. However, he said funding shortages and deteriorating conditions were preventing aid from being delivered on the scale needed.

"The funding cuts are costing lives. In addition to the food security crisis, two million women and girls have lost access to reproductive health services. And in Yemen, one pregnant woman is already dying every two hours," the UN deputy chief said.

He concluded with a call to action for the Security Council. According to Fletcher, members of the Security Council should use their influence to ensure the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained staff. They should also return UN premises occupied by security forces and increase funding for humanitarian action. “We must not allow mass starvation to determine the future of Yemen,” Fletcher said.

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September 15, 2025 Women

Women around the world still earn on average 20 percent less than men. Gender equality is not fully achieved due to persistent historical and structural barriers that limit opportunities for women and girls, UN Women said ahead of International Equal Pay Day on 18 September.

Inequality persists

According to the UN, women are more likely than men to be unemployed. Only 28 percent of employed women worldwide have access to paid maternity leave. At the same time, women still do an average of three hours more unpaid work per day in housework and childcare and elder care than men.

The UN also notes that the gender pay gap is greater among national and racial minorities. In the US, black women earn 63.7 cents of every dollar earned by white men, indigenous women earn 59 cents, and Latinas earn 57 cents.

Women, especially migrant women, are much more likely to work in the informal sector, where wages are lower and working conditions are much worse. Motherhood exacerbates inequality: working mothers earn less than women without children.

Internationally enshrined law

UN Women recalls that equal pay for work of equal value is a fundamental right enshrined in the in one of the international conventions, which has already been ratified by 91 countries, and is a guarantee of socio-economic development.

The organization calls for coordinated action to reduce the gender wage gap.

“We continue to advance this agenda in partnership with governments, employers, workers’ organizations, international institutions and research organizations,” the statement said.

Governments, UN Women stresses, must create legal and policy frameworks to ensure equal pay. Employers must implement transparent pay practices and create gender-sensitive workplaces, and workers’ organizations must promote social dialogue and collective bargaining.

“With evidence and technical support from international institutions and research organizations, as well as the active participation of the private sector, civil society and academia, we can close the gender pay gap and ensure women’s full economic empowerment,” the statement said.

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September 9, 2025 UN

The main news of the day in the UN and around the world: more than 20 killed in an attack in the Donetsk region, an Israeli strike on the capital of Qatar, human rights violations in Sudan, global military spending reaches a record level.

Attack in Donetsk region

Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale condemnedtoday's attack in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. In turn, the head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in the country (HRMMU) Danielle Bell said that the Mission was “working to obtain additional information about the suspected Russian air strike that reportedly killed 24 people and injured 19 this morning” in the village of Yarovaya in Donetsk region, less than 8 kilometers from the front line. According to local authorities, most of those killed were elderly people who had come to collect their pensions.

Strike in Qatar

UN Secretary General condemned Israeli strike on Qatari capital as a "flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of that country. Speaking at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday, Antonio Guterres noted that Qatar was playing a "very positive role in achieving the ceasefire and freeing the hostages." According to media reports, Israel carried out several strikes in Doha, targeting the Hamas leadership, who had gathered there for a meeting.

War in Sudan

The Fact-Finding Mission to Sudan presented its latest report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday. The mission's chairman, Mohamed Chande Othman, stressed that both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Intervention Forces militia had committed crimes during the war. An independent investigation into human rights violations in the country found that civilians had been "deliberately targeted, forcibly displaced and starved." In addition, Othman said, girls as young as 12 were being forced into marriage, "sometimes under threat of the death of their loved ones."

Military expenditures

After a decade of military buildup, global military spending reached a record high in 2024, increasing by more than nine percent compared to 2023. This is stated in a new report by the UN Secretary-General. The head of the Organization emphasizes that the situation signals a departure from the principles of the UN Charter. Global military spending, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, reached $2.7 trillion last year. The report calls on UN member states to reconsider their security and development priorities.

General Assembly

The UN chief spoke at the closing of the 79th session of the General Assembly. He thanked outgoing General Assembly President Philemon Young and expressed hope for fruitful cooperation with President-elect Annalena Baerbock during the next session, which opens today at UN headquarters in New York.

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September 9, 2025 Culture and education

For Nelson Rodriguez, Education Specialist, UNICEF Ukraine, International Day of Protection from Attacks in Education – is not just another date on the UN calendar, but a reminder of the daily challenges that Ukrainian children face. Nelson travels widely around the country helping to implement UNICEF educational programs, and he has a lot to share with UN News Service readers.

"Children strive to learn under any circumstances"

What strikes Nelson most about the harsh realities of war is the desire of Ukrainian children to return to school, no matter what, to sit at a desk next to their classmates and feel the “normality” of the learning process. “I would definitely note the desire of children to study, to go to school, to communicate with friends, to learn something new. I think this is very important in the current conditions and deserves a special mention,” he says.

Many children, especially those forced to learn entirely online because of security concerns, struggle with social and emotional development. Nelson recalls a teacher who ran into her students at the supermarket — and they didn’t recognize her in real life, away from the computer screen. “Can you imagine a situation where kids don’t see their teacher as a real person at all?” he says.

A lesson interrupted by sirens

Where physical schools remain open, lessons are often interrupted by sirens. Air raid sirens force children and teachers to take shelter, sometimes several times a day.

Nelson recalls a school where a September 1 celebration – with flowers, balloons and a generally joyful atmosphere – was suddenly interrupted by an alarm. “Imagine being six years old, it’s your first day of school, you’re just starting to realize that you have a new life – and suddenly you have to run for cover,” he says.

Imagine: you are six years old, it is your first day of school, you are just beginning to realize that you now have a new life – and suddenly you have to run for shelter

According to Nelson, it is precisely these experiences that shape childhood in Ukraine today. “We tend to think of war primarily as the destruction of infrastructure – and indeed, 10 percent of educational institutions in the country have been destroyed or damaged. But protecting education also means minimizing the constant disruption of learning and uncertainty,” Nelson emphasizes.

In classrooms where children are returning after extended periods of online learning, there may be psychological challenges. “They’re not used to being physically seated next to another child who may be a complete stranger, because they were learning alone in a familiar home environment,” Nelson says.

© DRC Ukraine/S. Koval

UNICEF is helping Ukrainian schools and communities organize extra classes, preschool programs, and catch-up lessons. Shelters have been installed in 90 percent of the country’s schools, allowing more children to return to the classroom. But the emotional toll remains high.

“We need to understand how constant disruption and disruption are having a profound impact on children’s mental health and well-being, and we need to consider how we – UNICEF, our partners and the wider international community – can minimise this impact,” Nelson says.

© UNICEF/A. Filippov

Behind the statistics

For Nelson Rodriguez, the statistics – thousands of damaged schools, a third of students still learning fully or partially online – are just part of a much larger picture. His memory is now perhaps forever imprinted on the anxious faces of Ukrainian children in classrooms and shelters, their resilience in the face of constant danger and their desire for normal school life.

“Protecting education is not just about fixing buildings,” he says. “It’s about ensuring that children can continue to learn, thrive and feel safe, even when the world around them is full of uncertainty.”

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September 9, 2025 UN

Former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was sworn in as President of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. “Our task at this 80th session is to show 8 billion people why this organization still matters,” she said.

Before the opening of the new session, the closing ceremony of the 79th session of the General Assembly was also held at UN headquarters on Tuesday.

"The founders of this organization in 1945 recognized a fundamental fact. The strength of the United Nations comes from the desire of nations to look beyond their national interests and think about what we can achieve when we stand together. That truth is as important today as it was 80 years ago," the UN chief said. Antonio Guterres, speaking at the closing ceremony.

During the swearing-in ceremony, Baerbock placed her hand on the 1945 UN Charter and then received the iconic carving from the outgoing President, Philemon Young. hammer.

Speaking to reporters outside the General Assembly, she said: "Looking at Gaza and Ukraine, Sudan and Haiti reminds us how often we have failed to deliver on our promises of peace and security, human rights, justice and sustainable development."

"We are now at a crossroads. The UN is under financial and political pressure. That is why the 80th session is not an ordinary session. Our task, 80 years after the creation of the UN – when the world is divided – is to preserve the entire United Nations system, to strengthen it and make the UN fit for the 21st century," Baerbock said.

Asked about Israel's strike on Hamas leadership in Qatar, she stressed that, in accordance with the UN Charter, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all UN member states must be respected.

"What we need is not tension in the region, but an intensification of diplomatic efforts aimed at an immediate and permanent ceasefire, an improvement in the humanitarian situation for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip with the assistance of the Israeli government, and the release of all hostages held by Hamas," she said.

Baerbock was elected in June with the support of 167 member states. She takes office amid geopolitical tensions, with multiple conflicts continuing around the world. Elections for the next UN Secretary-General are scheduled for 2026.

Baerbock is the first woman from the Western European group and the fifth woman in history to hold the post of President of the General Assembly.

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September 9, 2025 Healthcare

Obesity has become the most common consequence of poor nutrition among school-age children and adolescents for the first time, surpassing underweight. Obesity affects one in ten – or 188 million – young people on the planet, according to a new report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Overweight and poor nutrition put children at risk of developing life-threatening diseases, UNICEF warns.

Global trends

The report, based on data from more than 190 countries, shows that the prevalence of underweight among children aged 5-19 has fallen from almost 13 percent in 2000 to 9.2 percent, while obesity has risen from 3 percent to 9.4 percent. Obesity now exceeds underweight rates in every region of the world except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Several Pacific countries have the world's highest obesity rates: 38 percent of children and adolescents in Niue, 37 percent in the Cook Islands and 33 percent in Nauru. These rates have doubled since 2000, as the country shifts away from traditional foods to cheap, calorie-dense imports.

Rates also remain high in many high-income countries: 27 percent of children and adolescents aged 5–19 are obese in Chile, 21 percent in the United States and the same in the United Arab Emirates.

"Not just malnutrition"

"When we talk about malnutrition of children, it is no longer just a question of being underweight,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Obesity is a growing problem affecting children’s health and development. Increasingly, ultra-processed foods are replacing fruits, vegetables and proteins. And nutrition is especially important for a child’s growth, cognitive development and mental health.”

© UNICEF/V. Sorokin

While undernutrition, including wasting and stunting, remains a major problem among children under five in low- and middle-income countries, overweight and obesity are rapidly increasing among schoolchildren and adolescents.

According to the latest data, every fifth child and teenager aged 5–19 in the world – or 391 million – are overweight, and many of them are already classified as obese. Obesity is a severe form of excess weight that leads to an increased risk of developing insulin resistance, hypertension, and other dangerous diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers.

The influence of the food industry

The UNICEF report notes that ultra-processed and fast foods – loaded with sugar, starch, salt, fat and additives – are shaping children’s habits. And this is happening because of an unhealthy environment, not through personal choice. Such products dominate stores and schools, and digital marketing gives the industry powerful channels to reach children.

In a global survey of 64,000 young people aged 13 to 24 in more than 170 countries last year, for example, 75 percent of respondents reported seeing advertisements for sugary drinks or fast food in the past week, and 60 percent said the ads had increased their desire to buy those products. Even in conflict-affected countries, 68 percent reported being impacted by such advertising.

The Economic Cost of Inaction

Without urgent action to prevent obesity, countries risk facing severe health and economic consequences. The global economic costs of obesity-related diseases are projected to exceed $4 trillion annually by 2035.

The report cites examples of successful measures. In Mexico, a country with high obesity rates where sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods make up 40 percent of children’s daily diet, authorities have banned the sale and distribution of such products in schools.

UNICEF calls on governments, civil society and partners to introduce measures to improve the food environment, including food labelling, marketing restrictions, taxes and subsidies, and support social and behavioural initiatives, ban the sale and advertising of ultra-processed foods in schools, protect political processes from industry influence, and strengthen social protection programmes for vulnerable families.

“In many countries, we see a double burden of malnutrition – stunting and obesity coexisting. This requires targeted interventions,” said Catherine Russell. “Nutritious, affordable food should be available to every child. We urgently need interventions that help parents and caregivers provide healthy food to their children.”

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September 10, 2025 Healthcare

Every year on September 10, many countries hold events to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, co-organized by the World Health Organization. The goal of the World Day is to raise awareness that suicide can be prevented.

Suicides kill more than 700,000 people each year. Many more attempt suicide.

Every suicide is a tragedy that impacts families, communities and entire countries, with long-term consequences for the loved ones of the deceased. Suicide occurs across all age groups and is the third leading cause of death among people aged 15–29.

Suicides do not only occur in high-income countries; the phenomenon is present in all regions of the world. In the first half of this decade, nearly three-quarters of the world's suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

Who is at risk?

In high-income countries, there is a strong correlation between suicide and mental disorders (especially depression and alcohol use disorders) and previous suicide attempts. However, many suicides are committed impulsively in times of crisis, when the person is unable to cope with stressful life situations, such as financial and interpersonal problems, and chronic illness.

In addition, suicidal behavior often occurs in situations of armed conflict, natural disasters, violence and cruelty, or due to loss of a loved one and feelings of loneliness. Suicide rates are also high among vulnerable groups that are discriminated against, such as refugees and migrants, indigenous peoples, LGBTI people, and prisoners.

Prevention and suppression of suicides

A range of population, group and individual interventions can be used to prevent suicide. The WHO LIVE LIFE suicide prevention concept recommends the following effective and evidence-based interventions:

restricting access to means of suicide (e.g. pesticides, firearms, some medications); engaging with the media to ensure responsible reporting of suicide; developing social and emotional life skills in adolescents; promptly identifying and screening individuals with suicidal behavior.

Suicide prevention efforts must be coordinated and collaborative across different sectors of society, including health, education and the media. Given the multifaceted nature of the suicide problem, these efforts must be comprehensive and holistic.

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September 10, 2025 Humanitarian aid

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today unveiled a six-month, $22 million humanitarian response plan for Afghanistan to help 400,000 people, including more than 212,000 children, affected by the devastating earthquakes in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces.

August 31 in these provinces an earthquake with a magnitude of over 6.0 occurred, followed by multiple strong aftershocks. The quakes killed more than 2,200 people, injured more than 3,000, and completely or partially destroyed at least 6,700 homes. Survivors – many in remote mountain areas with limited infrastructure – now face serious risks as winter approaches and temperatures drop.

Read also:

The Night the Mountains Tremble: A Doctor's Story on the Front Lines in Afghanistan

“Geographical isolation, poor infrastructure and deeply ingrained social norms make this one of the most challenging humanitarian operations we have ever faced,” said Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan. “Despite the challenges, UNICEF and our partners have been working from the first days, providing health care, access to clean water, psychosocial support and life-saving supplies to children and their families. But this is not enough. We call on the international community to support these communities and help protect children before the harsh winter sets in.”

Priority areas of assistance

UNICEF’s six-month plan includes emergency medical assistance, rehabilitation of water systems and installation of temporary water points to prevent outbreaks of acute diarrhoea, repair of sanitation facilities in schools and health centres, distribution of hygiene products, and screening and treatment of children with signs of acute malnutrition. In addition, it plans to provide cash assistance to 13,200 families in greatest need.

Temporary classrooms will also be set up to hold classes until damaged schools are rebuilt. As part of its psychosocial support efforts, UNICEF plans to set up special spaces for children and support more social workers – including women.

Main challenges

The affected areas are among the most difficult to reach in Afghanistan. Mountainous terrain, limited roads, and traditional norms that restrict the movement of women and girls make the delivery of humanitarian aid very challenging. UNICEF is therefore focusing on engaging female health workers and social workers to ensure safe and equitable access to aid.

Many families have already moved to lower elevations where aid agencies can more effectively provide support – shelter, food, clean water and psychological support. However, with winter approaching, it is vital scale up humanitarian response.

UNICEF is calling on donors and partners to act urgently. Only with sufficient funding will the organization be able to meet both the immediate and long-term needs of children and families affected by the devastating disaster.

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