Latest news with #ChildFund
Scoop
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Amended - Gaza Is The Deadliest Conflict For Aid Workers, Says ChildFund
The number of aid workers killed in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels-making this one of the deadliest crises in recent history for those dedicated to saving lives. "Today is World Humanitarian Day, and ChildFund New Zealand is honouring its local partners working on the ground in Gaza. These are people bringing lifesaving water and food to children in the strip and trying to maintain some sort of normality by continuing education and making safe play areas for children," says Josie Pagani CEO of ChildFund. The occupied Palestinian territory is the deadliest setting for aid workers worldwide, with Palestinian staff accounting for 98% of aid worker fatalities: 509 out of 517 killings that took place between 2023-2025, according to the Aid Worker Security Database. ChildFund has joined more than 100 organisations in a joint global letter calling on Israel to stop the "weaponisation of aid" into Gaza, as "starvation deepens". Under the new guidelines, registration can be rejected if Israeli authorities deem that a group denies the democratic character of Israel or "promotes delegitimization campaigns" against the country. "ChildFund and its partners are not at all involved in the politics of the region. Its focus is entirely on saving lives." Aid agencies have been unable to deliver enough aid which has left hospitals without basic supplies and children, people with disabilities, and older people dying from hunger and preventable illnesses. "The UN says 600 trucks of supplies a day are needed in Gaza. To date only a few are getting through," says Josie Pagani. "It's not just the horror of starvation and lack of water. Gaza's education system has collapsed and is no longer operating, schools are used as emergency shelters and are often bombed. More than 50,000 children have been killed or injured, and 658,000 school-aged children are left without access to formal learning spaces. Through its partners, ChildFund has supported over 500,000 individuals with emergency access to water, sanitation, food and shelter. "Over the coming months, our partners in Gaza will bring water and food in and set up temporary schools to keep children learning the basics - reading and maths - so they have some hope of a future if they survive this horror." Honour the principle of World Humanitarian Day: The New Zealand government must: 1. Press Israel government to end the weaponisation of aid, including through bureaucratic obstruction, such as the INGO registration procedures. 2. Call for the immediate enforcement of international humanitarian law to ensure the protection of aid workers. 3. Demand safe humanitarian access to deliver life-saving aid in Gaza. ChildFund's Emergency Response Fund ensures that children get life-saving aid in an emergency.
Scoop
a day ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Gaza Is The Deadliest Conflict For Aid Workers, Says ChildFund
The number of aid workers killed in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels-making this one of the deadliest crises in recent history for those dedicated to saving lives. "Tomorrow is World Humanitarian Day, and ChildFund New Zealand will be honouring its local partners working on the ground in Gaza. These are people bringing lifesaving water and food to children in the strip and trying to maintain some sort of normality by continuing education and making safe play areas for children," says Josie Pagani CEO of ChildFund. The occupied Palestinian territory is the deadliest setting for aid workers worldwide, with Palestinian staff accounting for 98% of aid worker fatalities: 509 out of 517 killings that took place between 2023-2025, according to the Aid Worker Security Database. ChildFund has joined more than 100 organisations in a joint global letter calling on Israel to stop the "weaponisation of aid" into Gaza, as "starvation deepens". Most major international aid organisations including ChildFund and its partners, have been unable to deliver a single truck of lifesaving supplies since March because of new rules introduced by the Israeli government for the registration of aid charities. Under the new guidelines, registration can be rejected if Israeli authorities deem that a group denies the democratic character of Israel or "promotes delegitimization campaigns" against the country. "ChildFund and its partners is not at all involved in the politics of the region. Its focus is entirely on saving lives." Aid agencies have been unable to deliver enough aid which has left hospitals without basic supplies and children, people with disabilities, and older people dying from hunger and preventable illnesses. "The UN says 600 trucks of supplies a day are needed in Gaza. To date only a few are getting through," says Josie Pagani. "It's not just the horror of starvation and lack of water. Gaza's education system has collapsed and is no longer operating, schools are used as emergency shelters and are often bombed. More than 50,000 children have been killed or injured, and 658,000 school-aged children are left without access to formal learning spaces. Through its partners, ChildFund has supported over 500,000 individuals with emergency access to water, sanitation, food and shelter. "Over the coming months, our partners in Gaza will bring water and food in and set up temporary schools to keep children learning the basics - reading and maths - so they have some hope of a future if they survive this horror." Honour the principle of World Humanitarian Day: The New Zealand government must: 1. Press Israel government to end the weaponisation of aid, including through bureaucratic obstruction, such as the INGO registration procedures. 2. Call for the immediate enforcement of international humanitarian law to ensure the protection of aid workers. 3. Demand safe humanitarian access to deliver life-saving aid in Gaza. ChildFund's Emergency Response Fund ensures that children get life-saving aid in an emergency.
Scoop
08-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
World's Poorest Hit By Double Whammy - Trade War Plus A War On Aid
President Trump has announced his latest tariffs after a 90 day pause, confirming an increase for 14 countries, including some of the poorest. Today's announcement includes 40% tariff on goods from Myanmar and Laos, and a 36% tariff on goods from Thailand and Cambodia. "We are still waiting to see if he will carry through on his threat to increase tariffs on Pacific Island countries," says Josie Pagani, CEO of ChildFund. In April Trump announced tariffs in the Pacific, with Fiji likely to be charged the most at 32 per cent. Nauru, one of the smallest nations in the world would be hit with a 30 per cent tariff, while Vanuatu would get a 22 per cent tariff. The US is Fiji's top export destination, with Fijian exports totalling $US360 million in 2023. Kava represents 70 per cent of Vanuatu exports, and the US is one of its primary export destinations for the local drink. "If Vanuatu gets lumped with a 22% tariff on top of cuts to US aid, while it is still struggling to recover from last year's earthquake, it will be a real blow to its economy," says Josie Pagani. "Being hit with a double whammy - cuts to aid budgets and a trade war - could wreak havoc on the world's most indebted countries." Low to middle-income countries' debt levels have more than doubled since 2009 and the cost of servicing that debt has grown. "These tariffs make it harder for countries to trade their way out of poverty. It decreases the value of their exports, therefore reducing countries' access to foreign currencies, which they need to pay back their external debt." "There is some hope. Some developing countries will find new markets in Europe, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, including New Zealand and Australian markets. There are also other development banks who can lend to poor countries, for example the European Investment Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The U.S. is not a member of either. "But there is no doubt that today's tariff announcement will make it hard for countries to wean themselves off aid by increasing trade. The world is set to become a more dangerous place. The last thing we need now," says Josie Pagani.
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Children Bear The Brunt As Risk Of War Increases
Violence against children in areas with armed conflict has reached unprecedented levels, with children bearing the brunt of violent clashes, indiscriminate attacks, disregard for ceasefires and peace agreements, and deepening humanitarian crisis, according to a new report from the United Nations. "As wars across the world escalate, from Ukraine and Yemen, to Gaza, Israel and Iran, it is always children who suffer the most and are uniquely vulnerable to abuse," says Josie Pagani, CEO of ChildFund. According to the United Nation's annual report into Children and Armed Conflict, last year: 22,495 children were illegally recruited into armed groups, killed, maimed, raped or victims of other forms of sexual violence, and abduction in conflict zones 4,676 children were killed, and 7,291 maimed, affecting a staggering 11,967 children 41,370 were victims of grave violations, including attacks on schools and hospitals and denial of humanitarian access Grave violations against children increased by 545% in Lebanon, 525% in Mozambique and 490% in Haiti 3,018 children were jailed for association with parties to conflict. "In too many examples, perpetrators targeted attacks on children, used explosive weapons in populated areas, and systematically exploited children in hostilities for military and sexual purposes." "There is still a blatant disregard for international law at the moment, where 'might is right', and humanitarian access in war is denied. Children are the silent victims when the law is ignored," says Josie Pagani. Charities like ChildFund are on the ground, doing what they can to protect children in war zones. "Through our partners in Gaza, we are distributing water, hygiene kits, and doing everything possible to keep on top of the rapid increase of illnesses spreading through communities and in the camps for displaced people." In Gaza, 92% of homes, 88% of schools, 68% of cropland, and 68% of road networks have been destroyed, while only 50% of hospitals are functioning - most of them only partially. In Ukraine, ChildFund partners have reached nearly 3000 people, including 1,797 children and teenagers with food and water, and provided safe spaces for children to keep learning during the war, and to get the psychosocial support they need. "We must keep calling out those on all sides of a conflict who disregard international law, or recruit children as combatants in wars, target citizens illegally, or ride roughshod over the Convention of the Rights of the Child. These legal principles are there precisely to protect the most vulnerable people in the most violent situations."
Scoop
02-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Aid Is Under Attack – Meet Pacific Community Leaders Implementing Kiwi Funded Aid
Press Release – ChildFund New Zealand Pacific community leaders from Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu are visiting New Zealand to talk about their projects funded by the New Zealand public and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Join ChildFund for a special session on New Zealand's aid in the Pacific. Pacific community leaders from Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu are visiting New Zealand to talk about their projects funded by the New Zealand public and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Aid is under attack. They will be joined by geo-political experts for a frank discussion – what's working, what's not, and how do we navigate the volatile geo-politics in our region. Venue: ChildFund, 2 Kitchener St, Level 3, Auckland CBD, 1010 Date: Wednesday 7 May Time: 4pm-5:30pm (nibbles and drinks provided) Please RSVP at Join us for a spirited discussion: Sharon Inone – National Geographic Society's Explorer of the Year. CEO of Greenergy Pacific, a community organisation leading development and climate projects in Temotu Province, Solomon Islands. Sharon came home after working at the United Nations in New York, because she 'wanted to get things done faster' and bring clean water to the island where she grew up. Teima Onorio – Country Director of ChildFund Kiribati. Leads water and food security projects in one of the world's most climate-vulnerable nations, plus projects to up-skill young people. Teima works closely with the Kiribati government. Robert Oliver – Global Executive Director and host of Pacific Island Food Revolution. Robert's 'Masterchef' type TV show promoted healthy local food, and has helped lower rates of non-communicable-diseases in the Pacific. Robert's new TV projects will focus on supply chains and markets for Pacific food. Joanna Bourke – CEO of Pacific Cooperation Foundation, an organisation that amplifies Pacific voices, and builds partnerships between government, business, and communities. With a background in tourism, international trade, and Pacific development, Joanna brings business and community together, both in New Zealand and the Pacific. Josie Pagani – CEO of ChildFund with more than 25 years' experience in development and politics. Also, a geo-political media commentator with a fortnightly column in the Post. Other guests TBC.
