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Scoop
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Home Is Where The Heart Is – And Where Development Begins
23 July 2025 Mathare, one of the country's largest slums, houses upwards of 500,000 people in five square kilometres, cramming them together and storing the human waste they produce in uncovered rivulets. But, when he recounted the visit later to UN News, this was not the image that stuck with him the most. What he remembered most clearly was a group of boys and girls, dressed in navy blue school uniforms – the girls in skirts and the boys in pants, both with miniature ties underneath their vests – surrounded by squawking chickens and human waste. There was no formal or UNICEF-funded school nearby. But, the Mathare community had come together to create a school where their children might just have the chance to break an intergenerational cycle of poverty and invisibility. 'That was a message for me that development should be localised. There is something happening at the community [level],' said Mr. Jobin. Globally, over one billion people live in overcrowded slums or informal settlements with inadequate housing, making this one of the largest development issues worldwide, but also one of the most underrecognised. 'The first place where opportunity begins or is denied is not an office building or a school. It is in our homes,' UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told a high-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Tuesday. A litmus test Mr. Jobin was one of the experts taking part in the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development at UN Headquarters in New York this month to discuss progress – or lack thereof – towards the globally agreed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One of the goals aspires to create sustainable cities and communities. However, with close to three billion people facing an affordable housing crisis, this goal remains unrealised. 'Housing has become a litmus test of our social contract and a powerful measure of whether development is genuinely reaching people or quietly bypassing them,' said Rola Dashti, Under-Secretary-General for the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). Housing as a mirror for inequalities With over 300 million unhoused people worldwide, sometimes it is easy to forget about the one billion people who are housed inadequately. These people, who populate informal settlements and slums, live in unstable dwellings and in communities where few services are provided. 'Housing reflects the inequalities shaping people's daily lives. It signals who has access to stability, security and opportunity and who does not,' said Ms. Dashti. Children living in slums or informal settlements are up to three times more likely to die before their fifth birthday. They are also 45 per cent more stunted than their peers as a result of poor nutrition. Women and girls are more likely to experience gender-based violence. And human trafficking and child exploitation are also more prevalent. An intergenerational invisibility People in informal settlements are often not a part of the national census, according to Mr. Jobin, meaning that they are not taken into consideration in policies, social programmes or budgets. Even if they were given social protections, these settlements rarely have addresses at which families could receive cash transfers. This is why experts often say that the people living in informal settlements and slums are invisible in official data and programmes. 'You're born from an invisible family, so you become invisible,' Mr. Jobin said. 'You don't exist. You're not reflected in policies or budgeting.' This invisibility makes it almost impossible to escape poverty. 'You become a prisoner of a vicious circle that entertains itself and then you reproduce yourself to your kid,' he said, referring to an inescapable cycle of deprivation. The urban paradox More and more people are migrating into urban centres, leading to the growth of these informal settlements. With their growth comes more urgency to address the issues. The World Bank estimates that 1.2 million people each week move to cities, often seeking the opportunities and resources that they offer. But, millions of people are never able to benefit, instead becoming forgotten endnotes in an urban paradox that portrays urban wealth as a protection against poverty. By 2050, the number of people living in informal settlements is expected to triple to three billion, one third of whom will be children. Over 90 per cent of this growth will occur in Asia and Africa. 'These statistics are not just numbers; they represent families, they represent workers and entire communities being left behind,' said Anacláudia Rossbach, Under-Secretary-General of UN Habitat, which is working to make cities more sustainable. Housing as a human right It is not just national and local governments which struggle to contend with informal settlements. Organizations like UNICEF are also 'blind', Mr. Jobin said, regarding the scope of problems in informal settlements. Development partners face twin issues in designing interventions. There is not enough national data and informal governance, or slum lords, can be more critical for coordinating programs than traditional governmental partners. 'We know the issue, but somehow we have not really been able to intervene,' he said. Ms. Mohammed emphasised that 'we need to begin to see adequate and affordable housing as more than just a result of development; it is the foundation upon which all other development must rest." 'Housing is not simply about a roof over one's head. It's a fundamental human right and the foundation upon which peace and stability itself rests.'
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Strictly Come Dancing's Oti Mabuse re-lives trauma of having to touch her baby through glass
The Dancing On Ice judge visited a neonatal clinic for the first time since her daughter's traumatic birth, while supporting a UNICEF programme in Africa. Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse has relived the traumatic experience of giving birth to her baby early after jetting out 3,000 miles to west Africa to meet with mums nursing their premature little ones. The 34-year-old professional dancer returned to a neonatal unit for the first time since she went through a tough 16-hour labour with her daughter, who arrived two months early, weighing just 3lbs in 2023. Oti's baby girl spent the next six weeks in intensive care at University College London Hospital after she was born with an infection and the Strictly star also developed sepsis. Both baby and mum recovered but the Dancing On Ice judge revealed her intense trauma after visiting a UNICEF-funded specialist clinic in Ivory Coast Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) in Africa. In the city of Abidjan she witnessed how premature babies are receiving critical life-saving treatment and daily care including a UNICEF programme called "Kangaroo Mother Care" which promotes the importance of skin-on-skin contact. Opening up about her own traumatic experience, Oti said: 'I remember the only way I could touch my child and have skin-on-skin was through this glass window – there's no mother who wants to experience that.' According to UNICEF, an estimated 4.8 million children died globally in 2024 before reaching their fifth birthday, including 2.3 million newborns who died within the first 28 days of life, the Mirror reports. In Cote D'Ivoire, lack of access to specialised care is one of the reasons that prematurity is the leading cause of death for children under five. In Abidjan, the UNICEF team offers breastfeeding support clinics and regular check-ups until the babies are of age to attend school alongside locally made loin cloth slings, so mothers remain in close contact with their babies. At the hospital, Oti spoke with Ouattara, a mother whose first baby was born prematurely and needed critical care. Sadly, her baby died six days later due to the lack of access to specialised support. Thankfully, her second baby, Abdul, who was also born prematurely, was rushed to the UNICEF centre where they stayed for three weeks to get the care and attention they needed. Two years on, Abdul is a healthy and happy little boy. The Strictly star also visited a UNICEF-supported foster care home, where the organisation supports children providing food and ensuring they stay in education or have vocational training. There, she met Madame Massandje, who has been trained by UNICEF to identify kids living on the streets and offer them safety and shelter in her own home. Madame Massandje currently has 15 children in her care as a result - four girls and eleven boys aged three to fifteen. Speaking about her inspiring trip ahead of Soccer Aid for UNICEF, Oti said: 'Visiting Côte d'Ivoire with UNICEF UK showed me the first-hand impact of the importance of vital care for children and their parents - especially for those that are born prematurely. "My own baby was born prematurely, so seeing the work and meeting mums like Ouattara brought everything home. I know how vital that care and support is in those early days. Worldwide an estimated 4.8 million children died before reaching their fifth birthday in 2024 - deaths that were mostly preventable. "I also met incredible foster carers like Madame Massandje, who are changing children's lives and helping give them the start in life they deserve. These experiences showed me the real difference donations make. That's why I'm so proud to be part of Soccer Aid for UNICEF - to help give every child a safe, healthy start in life.' Oti's trip will be broadcasted in a UNICEF appeal film which will feature during Soccer Aid for UNICEF on Sunday June 15. It will be broadcasted on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player at 6pm. This year, thanks to the Children's Investment Fund Foundation, every donation you make to Soccer Aid for UNICEF will be doubled – up to £5 million.
Daily Mirror
09-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Strictly star's baby heartache - 'I could only touch her through glass window'
The Dancing On Ice judge, 34, visited a neonatal clinic for the first time since her daughter was born two months premature in 2023 and needed intensive care Former Strictly star Oti Mabuse today re-lived the traumatic early birth of her baby - after jetting 3,000 miles to west Africa to meet stricken mums nursing premature tots. The pro dancer, 34, returned to a neonatal unit for the first time since she endured a 16-hour labour with her daughter, who arrived two months early, weighing 3lbs, in 2023. The baby spent the next six weeks in intensive care at University College London Hospital after she was born with an infection and Oti developed sepsis. Baby and mother recovered, but the Dancing On Ice judge has revealed her trauma after visiting a UNICEF-funded specialist clinic in Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) in Africa. In the city of Abidjan she saw how premature babies are receiving critical life-saving treatment and daily care including a UNICEF programme called "Kangaroo Mother Care" which promotes the importance of skin-on-skin contact. Reflecting on her own experience, Oti said: 'I remember the only way I could touch my child and have skin-on-skin was through this glass window – there's no mother who wants to experience that.' According to UNICEF, globally in 2024 an estimated 4.8 million children died before reaching their fifth birthday, including 2.3 million newborns who died within the first 28 days of life1. In Cote D'Ivoire, lack of access to specialised care is one of the reasons that prematurity is the leading cause of death for children under five. In Abidjan, the UNICEF team provides breastfeeding support clinics and regular check-ups until the babies are school age alongside locally made loin cloth slings, so mothers remain in close contact with their babies. At the hospital, Oti - married to fellow dance champ Marius Iepure, 42 - met Ouattara, a mother whose first baby was born prematurely and needed critical care. Sadly, without access to specialised support, her baby died six days later. Thankfully, her second baby, Abdul, although born prematurely again, was rushed to the UNICEF centre where they stayed for three weeks to get the care and attention they needed. Two years later, Abdul is a healthy and happy little boy. Oti also visited a UNICEF-supported foster care home, where the organisation supports children providing food and ensuring they stay in education or have vocational training. There, Oti met Madame Massandje, who has been trained by UNICEF to identify children living on the streets and offer them safety in her own home. As a result, she currently has 15 children in her care - four girls and eleven boys aged three to fifteen. Speaking about her inspiring trip ahead of Soccer Aid for UNICEF, Oti said: 'Visiting Côte d'Ivoire with UNICEF UK showed me the first-hand impact of the importance of vital care for children and their parents - especially for those that are born prematurely. "My own baby was born prematurely, so seeing the work and meeting mums like Ouattara brought everything home. I know how vital that care and support is in those early days. Worldwide an estimated 4.8 million children died before reaching their fifth birthday in 2024 - deaths that were mostly preventable. I also met incredible foster carers like Madame Massandje, who are changing children's lives and helping give them the start in life they deserve. These experiences showed me the real difference donations make. That's why I'm so proud to be part of Soccer Aid for UNICEF - to help give every child a safe, healthy start in life.' A UNICEF appeal film of Oti's trip will feature during Soccer Aid for UNICEF, which will be broadcast on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player at 6pm on Sunday June 15. This year, thanks to the Children's Investment Fund Foundation, every donation you make to Soccer Aid for UNICEF will be doubled – up to £5 million. Donations can be made ahead of the match at
Miami Herald
14-04-2025
- Miami Herald
Aid cuts mean Haiti will need to do more to shoulder humanitarian response, UN says
As United Nations agencies and other humanitarian aid groups in Haiti continue to feel the effects of global aids cuts, Haiti will need to take a more significant role in its humanitarian response, a top U.N. official says. 'Part of the humanitarian response needs to be shouldered by the government,' Ted Chaiban, the deputy director of the U.N.'s leading child welfare agency, UNICEF, told the Miami Herald. Chaiban, whose connection to Haiti dates back to the early 1990s, spent several days in the country recently. He wanted to see first-hand the effects of the ongoing gang violence that has already led to more than 1,500 deaths this year and the destruction of at least 47 schools. He also wanted to see what was being done to help children, who are increasingly caught in the crossfire. 'The situation in Port-au-Prince in particular is heartbreaking, what's happening to people who have been displaced many times, who have lost everything,' he said. Chaiban's visit first took him to the city of Gonaives in the Artibonite region, where schools and hospitals are still functioning despite the incursion of armed gangs in its lower valley just north of Port-au-Prince. Among his stops was a busy primary-care health center that treats about 500 people a day, including new mothers and babies, pregnant women, malnourished children and victims of sexual violence. As he toured the UNICEF-funded facility, Chaiban said, the medical director told him that without the agency's continued support the facility would be forced to shut down. 'Funding cuts have consequences,' Chaiban added. This was driven home during the visit in Port-au-Prince. He met with government ministers, toured displacement camps and met with victims of the violence. One of them was a 14-year-old girl who had been raped and shot in the face in December when gangs targeted her Lower Delmas neighborhood. 'She was just so strong and courageous in telling us how she's afraid, she's not happy about what is going on in her country but the one thing that gives her hope is that she's still in school; she wants to be a doctor someday,' Chaiban said. More than half of Haiti's internally displaced people are children, according to UNICEF's figures, and they also account for half of the estimated 6 million Haitians who are in need of humanitarian assistance. In the camps, Chaiban met children and parents who had been forced to run for their lives, leaving everything behind. Families spoke of fleeing through gunfire and of their homes being burned down. One site he visited, a school that has been turned into a displacement camp, is sheltering more than 7,000 people. Half of them were were children. There were just four latrines for the entire site. 'Initially the authorities did not want any investments in some of these sites because they wanted people to go back' to their homes, he said. 'But the reality is they're not going back anytime soon and so you need to make some investments like more bathrooms. You need more latrines, you need more sanitation kits, you need more shelter; people are living under plastic sheeting.' There were a few bright spots, he said. One of them was a private school with 300 students that has taken in an additional 900 students from a nearby public school. 'It's just remarkable to see a private school hosting a public school with the students from all very different backgrounds studying together,' he said. Like other U.N. agencies, UNICEF is trying to adjust to funding cuts, he said, that are the result of the United States' aid freeze and cuts from other donors. In Haiti alone the agency is in need of $272 million for this year, and as of March had only raised $15 million. 'We need to get more resources to be able to continue the work that we do,' Chaiban said. This includes money to deal with malnutrition. There are 128,000 Haitian children suffering from severe malnutrition who need ready-to-use food and other treatment. 'If you don't reach a child with treatment,' he said, 'they have a tenfold increase in their chance of dying, so it's a really serious situation when we see funding cuts.' Because of the overall cuts in development assistance, the Haitian government needs to take a more leading role in the humanitarian response, he said. Chaiban said that in his meetings with government officials, including the prime minister and the head of the Transitional Presidential Council, he focused on the impact of the aids cuts as well as the challenges the health and education systems face. 'We need a different way to cooperate, where the government needs to have a clear direction... be clear about what it's putting on the table and say to its partners, 'How can you complement what I am doing?'' he said. That collaboration needs to extend beyond the capital, now endangered of falling completely to gang control. 'The situation in Port-au-Prince is dramatic; but Port-au-Prince is not Haiti,' said Chaiban. 'There are still services in the north and the south that need to be sustained; there are services that are working, whether its health or education, and we need to keep working... to sustain those.' Haiti was recently named 'a situation of concern' in the U.N. Secretary-General's annual report on children and armed conflict. Among the report's alarming trends, which included more than 1,000 percent increase in verified cases of rape and others forms of sexual violence against children, was the recruitment of children by gangs. The U.N. estimates that as much as 50% of Haiti's armed gangs consist of children. Chaiban said he raised the issue with the government, which is required under an agreement with UNICEF to turn over children police find so they can be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society. 'We need to do everything to try and get them out and to keep children in school and try to find economic opportunities.'
