UNICEF East Asia and Pacific

In Wa Zun Chaung, a remote village in southeast Myanmar, accessing clean water was a daily struggle. Families walked kilometers to murky streams, boiled water when they could afford firewood, and watched their children fall ill again and again. For Daw Shwe War and her five children, every sip carried uncertainty and fear. “We collect water from ponds or the stream. Some days it’s okay. Other days, we know it’s not clean—but we drink it anyway,” she said. In early 2024, UNICEF and local partners, with funding from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), delivered life-saving solutions: LifeStraw water filter buckets, hygiene kits, handwashing stations, and shelter support. Simple, durable, community-driven interventions that transformed daily life. Today, thanks to a LifeStraw water filter — a simple device that filters unsafe water so families can drink safely – and improved hygiene practices, children go to school, parents worry less, and communities flourish. Saw Wai Moe Eliana Drakopoulos United Nations OCHA

Adolescence is hard. Pressures from school, work, family, and society often leave young people carrying heavy burdens alone. Khamlar, 20, saw this in his community in Laos. Through Youth Champions Laos programme, he launched Mental Health Changemakers, creating safe spaces where youth could share, listen, and be heard. 40 participants opened up for the first time. Khamlar’s story reminds us: change begins with listening, and listening can change lives. Ticiana Garcia-Tapia Raweekarn (Paopao) Amarachgul Mirjana Unčanin Simon Nazer Shreyasi Jha

Obesity is on the rise across East Asia and the Pacific, even as millions of children still suffer from malnutrition and wasting. At the heart of this crisis are the food environments that shape children’s daily choices. The economic toll is staggering: if we don’t act, undernutrition and vitamin and mineral deficiencies could cost $21 trillion in productivity losses over the next decade, while overweight and obesity could add another $20 trillion in social and economic costs. The solution is clear: investing in healthy, safe, and sustainable food systems — from how food is produced to how it’s marketed and sold — not only protects children, but also strengthens markets and reduces healthcare costs. Sameea Sheikh from ATNi (Access to Nutrition initiative) shares why the private sector has a vital role to play. Romain Sibille Karla Parra Correa Myo-Zin Nyunt Alison Feeley PhD RNutr Isaiah Emmanuel Suguitan, RND World Benchmarking Alliance Ida Margarita Hyllested Amy Sellmyer UNDP B+HR UNDP RE-FRESH: Next Generation IOM Asia Pacific UN Women Asia and the Pacific UN Environment Programme Asia and the Pacific UN Human Rights - Asia UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights

When we listen, support, and care — lives are saved. 💙 Because small acts of care, like a check-in, flexibility at work, or empathy, can make a lasting difference in someone’s mental health and shape a generation of hope. Ruth O'Connell Rachel Harvey Myo-Zin Nyunt

Good nutrition is one of the smartest investments in a child’s future, and in Calamba City, that idea is coming to life. Expecting mothers are getting the antenatal care and nutrition support they need for healthier pregnancies, while the community works together to ensure every child grows strong. The community has rallied around a shared commitment: preventing malnutrition is everyone’s responsibility. From promoting breastfeeding as the best first food to implementing PhilHealth’s Severe Acute Malnutrition Benefit Package for children who need urgent treatment, Calamba is showing that early, coordinated action works. The Department of Health, UNICEF, Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), and the Child Nutrition Fund are working together to ensure families can access quality nutrition care when and where they need it.    Because good nutrition doesn't start at the dinner table. It starts much, much earlier.    #NutritionMatters #ForEveryChild  Roland Kupka UNICEF Philippines Rene Gerard Galera, Jr Mueni Mutunga Alison Feeley PhD RNutr Sanele Nkomani Myo-Zin Nyunt Alice Nkoroi

Across East Asia and the Pacific, 4 million children are fighting a battle most of the world doesn't see—against wasting, a severe form of malnutrition that leaves young bodies dangerously thin.    When 18-month-old Deomancio's mother left their village in Vemasse, Baucau Municipality, to find work in the capital, his grandfather stepped in to care for him. Within weeks, the toddler fell seriously ill. His tiny arms grew thinner, his energy faded, classic signs of severe malnutrition.    Through treatment at Baucau Hospital and ongoing support from Mother Support Group (MSG) members, his arm circumference grew from 11cm to 13cm, and his weight increased from 7kg to 9kg over six months. MSG puts solutions to child nutrition in the hands of communities themselves. Supported by UNICEF and the UK Government, more than 1,000 MSG volunteers across Baucau and Viqueque municipalities have been trained to screen children, counsel caregivers, promote healthy practices, and connect families to healthcare services when needed. In September, H.E. Dominic Jermey, British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, visited Baucau Municipality to see the programme in action. He met with mothers, children, health staff, and MSG volunteers who are delivering these services at the village level. As malnutrition rates climb in neighboring countries, Timor-Leste offers a blueprint: invest in communities, empower local voices, and the change can be profound. With continued support from partners like the UK Government, this community-centered model can scale, giving more children across the region a real chance to thrive.    Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office UNICEF Timor-Leste Rene Gerard Galera, Jr Alison Taylor Myo-Zin Nyunt June Kunugi

Access to healthcare shouldn't depend on geography or income. Yet for too many families, that's the reality. In the Philippines, nearly 600,000 children face severe wasting annually—a life-threatening condition that leaves children dangerously underweight and vulnerable to infection. This year, the Philippines became the first country in the world to fully cover outpatient treatment for severe acute malnutrition through its national health insurance program. The policy covers everything: medical care, nutrition counselling, and therapeutic food. All at no cost to families. The impact? An estimated 100,000 children will receive life-saving treatment each year, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. Developed by PhilHealth in partnership with UNICEF, the UK Government, and national stakeholders, this initiative demonstrates what's possible when policy innovation meets collaborative action. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office UNICEF Philippines Rene Gerard Galera, Jr Mueni Mutunga Alison Feeley PhD RNutr Sanele Nkomani Sibylle Newman Moumiita G Dastidar Myo-Zin Nyunt

Every child deserves care and every caregiver deserves support. Care is everything we do to nurture, protect, and support children: from feeding and teaching them to ensuring parents and caregivers have the time, services, and resources to do so. It’s the foundation of strong, inclusive societies and successful businesses. Family-friendly workplaces that prioritize care:  ✅ Improve employee retention and productivity  ✅ Advance gender equality  ✅ Promote disability inclusion  ✅ Build stronger, more resilient teams and communities Because when we make care visible, inclusive, valued, and shared, everyone thrives — children, communities and businesses alike. #InternationalDayOfCare Shreyasi Jha Rachel Harvey Karla Parra Correa Romain Sibille Jessica Owens Ana María Rodríguez Moumiita G Dastidar Myo-Zin Nyunt June Kunugi

Across East Asia and the Pacific, 4 million children are affected by wasting — the most life-threatening form of malnutrition. As Global Action Plan for Child Wasting frontrunner countries, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste are turning their national commitments into real change for children in their communities. UNICEF is working with governments, the private sector, and communities to strengthen local solutions that save lives. We’re training community health volunteers to detect early signs of malnutrition and helping parents use MUAC (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference) tapes to monitor their children’s growth.    Village-based health support groups in Indonesia, Cambodia, and Papua New Guinea show how communities across the East Asia Pacific region are helping families nourish, protect, and care for their children before malnutrition strikes. These practical, scalable solutions are transforming child health — one family, one community at a time. But millions more still need support. By partnering with UNICEF, your company can help ensure that no child’s life is lost to wasting and build healthier, more resilient communities across the region. Rene Gerard Galera, Jr Alison Feeley PhD RNutr Mueni Mutunga Sanele Nkomani Sibylle Newman Myo-Zin Nyunt June Kunugi UNICEF Papua New Guinea UNICEF Cambodia UNICEF Indonesia UNICEF Philippines UNICEF Timor-Leste UNICEF Supply UNICEF