14 Jan Make 2021 ‘safer, healthier world for children’, UNICEF chief urges
As always, the Pacific island nation of Fiji will welcome the first baby of the new year and the United States the last one.
Over half of these global births are estimated to take place in the 10 countries of India – 59,995; China – 35,615; Nigeria – 21,439; Pakistan – 14,161; Indonesia –12,336; Ethiopia – 12,006 – US (10,312), Egypt – 9,455; Bangladesh – 9,236; and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – 8,640.
In total, UNICEF estimates an 84-year average life expectancy for the 140 million children it projects will be born throughout 2021.
More to celebrate
The year will also mark the 75th anniversary of UNICEF.
Over the course of 2021, UNICEF and its partners will be commemorating the milestone anniversary with events and announcements celebrating three-quarters of a century of protecting children from conflict, disease and exclusion, and championing their right to survival, health and education.
“Children born today will inherit the world we begin to build for them today”, reminded the UNICEF chief.
“Let us make 2021 the year we start to build a fairer, safer, healthier world for children”, she added.
See more at https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1081252