Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 16 June 2026

This Media Update includes:

• UNICEF - PRESS RELEASE : Nearly half of the world's children exposed to at least three overlapping climate threats - UNICEF
• UNWOMEN - PRESS RELEASE : High-Level Consultation in Karachi, Advances Coordinated Action to Prevent Femicide and Gender-Related Killings of Women and
• UNDP - PRESS RELEASE : Germany, UNDP, and Balochistan Government hand over climate-resilient houses to flood-affected families in Hanna-Urak

UNICEF

PRESS RELEASE

Nearly half of the world's children exposed to at least three overlapping climate threats - UNICEF

Drought, extreme heat, and heatwaves are the most prevalent trio of hazards endangering millions of children globally, according to new climate report

NEW YORK, 16 June 2026 - Nearly half of the world's children - or 1.1 billion - are now exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards, threatening their health, education, and survival, according to a new UNICEF report launched today. Almost every child in the world faces at least one climate hazard, while more than 4 million could face as many as six overlapping threats, the report warns.

The Children's Climate Risk Report 2026 uses the latest available data to map children's exposure to the eight most frequent climate threats, including coastal floods, droughts, extreme heat, fires, heatwaves, riverine floods, sand and dust storms, and tropical storms. For the first time, the report reveals exactly where - and how intense - multiple and overlapping climate threats are affecting children and the essential social services they rely on, and how governments can take concrete actions to respond.

"The lives of children continue to be upended by the impact of heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, and floods," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. "Half of the world's children are now living with at least three overlapping climate threats shaping their daily lives."

Drought, extreme heat, and heatwaves are the most widespread combination of climate hazards, with over 296 million children living in areas exposed to all three conditions, according to the findings. The second most common combination - drought, extreme heat, and tropical storms - leaves more than 115 million children worldwide exposed to these overlapping threats.

In the Sahel region of Africa, one of the hardest hit, more than 4 million children face the triple threat of heatwaves, extreme heat, and sand and dust storms, while in countries across Asia, for example Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Pakistan, children are exposed to more climate hazards at once and at a higher intensity than anywhere else in the world.

High-income countries are not immune to overlapping climate shocks. In Italy, for example, more than 6 million children are regularly exposed to prolonged heatwaves and drought, the data show. Yet the country illustrates how investment in climate change adaptation can mitigate some of the risks children face, while highlighting the need for further action as the climate crisis intensifies.

In addition to the eight most frequent climate hazards, the report analyses children's exposure to air pollution and malaria; two risks that are highly sensitive to the effects of climate change. Data show that air pollution affects nearly every child globally, while 1 billion children are exposed to malaria, adding another layer of danger for children already facing multiple climate hazards.

The report also presents a framework to analyse the different types of risks children face, based on their exposure to climate shocks and their vulnerability, determined by access to essential social services such as healthcare, clean water, education, and more. The approach can be applied in different ways, from looking at risks related to individual or multiple climate hazards to examining risks across sectors, revealing the threats children face across different contexts.

For example, considering multiple hazards and vulnerabilities together, children in landlocked* and fragile* countries such as Chad or the Central African Republic face overlapping climate hazards while also lacking access to basic services, making it much harder for them to cope and recover. Meanwhile, all children in 24 Small Island Developing States*, including from Haiti to Vanuatu, are exposed to tropical storms, which can disrupt entire islands at once and overwhelm essential services, the report notes.

Without urgent efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, climate hazards will grow more frequent and severe, placing even greater strain on government budgets and systems, threatening children's well-being, the report warns.

To protect children's rights from climate threats and adapt to growing environmental changes, UNICEF is calling on governments, businesses and relevant actors to:

• Reduce emissions and take ambitious action to fulfil existing international commitments, grounded in the best available science, including the urgent phasing-out of fossil fuels and a just transition towards renewable energy.
• Protect children through inclusive climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and responses to loss and damage that prioritise the resilience of social services, ensuring that children and child-critical services are included in national adaptation plans and sector strategies, disaster risk governance, preparedness and response plans. This includes, for example, developing safe and green learning facilities and climate-resilient health care facilities, securing children's food security, making multi-hazard early warning systems effective for children and accessible to the services they rely on, and strengthening the efficiency of water and sanitation services, as well as shock-responsive social protection systems.
• Empower children and young people to meaningfully participate in climate action by investing in climate education, knowledge and skills, and by strengthening the capacity of decision makers and experts to respect children's rights to be heard, freedom of expression, and participation in decisions that affect their lives.

"This analysis can help governments and decision-makers plan better and invest more effectively in resilient services," said Russell. "When we strengthen health and education systems, and improve infrastructure with children in mind, we protect them from today's climate threats and help secure their future."

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Note to editors:

To better understand the potential severity and frequency of climate threats throughout a child's life, the methodology uses a probabilistic model based on a 100-year return period. This approach captures extreme climate events that are highly likely to occur in any given year and highlights the most significant hazards children are exposed to.

The CCRR 2026 looks at children's exposure to eight climate hazards: coastal floods, droughts, extreme heat, fires, heatwaves, riverine floods, sand and dust storms, and tropical storms, as well as two climate-sensitive hazards such as air pollution and vector borne diseases; while considering inherent vulnerabilities of children across seven dimensions: water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), nutrition, protection, health, education, poverty, and child survival.

This report includes updated data and models covering a broader range of hazards and vulnerabilities, compared to UNICEF's 2021 The climate crisis is a child rights crisis report. The analysis now encompasses most countries and territories - including Small Island Developing States - and utilises a pixel-level multi-hazard approach, providing higher-resolution data at a gridded scale. Hazard data are now available for areas as small as 100 square kilometres in each country, with some hazards mapped at a 100-metre resolution.

Link to the Children's Climate Risk Report here.

*Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) are developing nations that lack territorial access to the sea. Often, the development of LLDCs is constrained by isolation from world markets and high trade costs.

*Fragility: According to OECD, it is the combination of exposure to risk and insufficient resilience of a state, system and/or community to manage, absorb or mitigate those risks. In this report, countries classified as experiencing extreme or high fragility are grouped together and referred to as "fragile."

* Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are a distinct group of nations characterized by their small size and remote island geography. SIDS' unique vulnerabilities include their small size, remoteness, narrow resource and export base, and exposure to external economic shocks.

For further information, please contact:
Iris Bano Romero | UNICEF New York | [email protected]

About UNICEF
UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the toughest places to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential.

For more information about UNICEF and its work, visit: www.unicef.org
Follow UNICEF on X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

UNWOMEN

PRESS RELEASE

High-Level Consultation in Karachi, Advances Coordinated Action to Prevent Femicide and Gender-Related Killings of Women and Girls

Karachi, Pakistan - 15 June 2026: Ministry of Human Rights and UN women organised a high level consultative session to discuss the issue of femicide and killing of women in pretext of so called honour in Karachi partnership with Sindh Human Rights Department and Sindh Commission on Status of women . The initiative has been taken in context of recent surge in cases of honour killings, and Government's zero tolerance policy on violence Against Women .

The consultation brought together representatives from federal and provincial government departments, justice sector institutions, medico-legal services, human rights bodies, civil society organizations, development partners, UN agencies, and women's rights advocates to discuss priority actions for preventing femicide and other gender-related killings of women and girls, strengthening accountability, and improving protection and access to justice.

In his remarks, Mr. Rajvir Singh Sodha, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Sindh on Human Rights, reaffirmed the Government of Sindh's commitment to ending violence against women and girls and advancing human rights across the province. He stated: "The Government of Sindh has consistently demonstrated its commitment to protecting the rights of women and girls through progressive legislation, institutional reforms, and partnerships with civil society and development partners. However, laws alone are not enough. We must strengthen implementation, ensure accountability for perpetrators, and foster a culture where violence against women and girls is not tolerated and never justified."

Speaking at the event, Ms. Rubina Brohi, Chairperson, Sindh Commission on the Status of Women (SCSW), emphasized the importance of collective action and stated: "There is no justification for violence committed in the name of so-called honour. We must strengthen implementation of existing laws, ensure accountability for perpetrators, and work together to challenge the harmful norms that continue to put women and girls at risk. Every woman and girl has the right to live with dignity, safety, and equal protection under the law."

Mr. Abdul Khaliq Sheikh, Secretary, Ministry of Human Rights, reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to supporting coordinated national and provincial efforts to prevent gender-related killings of women and girls and strengthen accountability for such crimes. He stated: "Through this consultation and the commitments adopted today, we are reaffirming our resolve to strengthen prevention, improve accountability, and ensure that every woman and girl in Pakistan can live free from violence, fear, and discrimination."

Speaking at the consultation, Ms. Fahmida Iqbal Khan, Deputy Country Representative, UN Women Pakistan, said: "Every femicide is preventable. Ending these killings requires more than criminal justice responses-it requires changing the social norms that enable violence, strengthening institutions, and ensuring that evidence informs policy. Through our support to the National EVAWG Policy and Pakistan's first National Study on Femicide, UN Women remains committed to working with government and civil society partners to prevent these crimes and advance the rights, safety, and dignity of women and girls across Pakistan."

Presentations by Mr. Jameel Junejo, Secretary, Human Rights Department, Government of Sindh, and Dr. Sumaiyya Tariq, Chief Police Surgeon and Head of Medico-Legal Services, Sindh, highlighted trends in reported cases and institutional responses. Data presented during the consultation showed that 554 honour killing cases were processed and referred to relevant authorities between January 2024 and April 2026. Based on reported cases alone, these figures likely understate the true scale of the problem while highlighting persistent gaps in prevention, reporting, and accountability.

The consultation concluded with the adoption of the "No Honour in Killing" Joint Communiqué, committing stakeholders to strengthen accountability, improve protection and support services, enhance data and evidence systems, reject parallel justice mechanisms that sanction violence, and invest in prevention through community engagement and social norms change.

Participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensuring that gender-related killings of women and girls are prevented, prosecuted, and never justified under the guise of so-called honour, and that every woman and girl in Pakistan can live free from violence and discrimination.

About UN Women

UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It works globally to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between women and men.

For further information, please contact:

Erum Fareed, Communications Officer, UN Women Pakistan
E: [email protected]M: +92 326 8474546

UNDP

PRESS RELEASE

Germany, UNDP, and Balochistan Government hand over climate-resilient houses to flood-affected families in Hanna-Urak

Quetta, 15 June 2026 - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from the Government of Germany through KfW Development Bank and in partnership with the Government of Balochistan, handed over climate-resilient houses to families affected by the devastating 2022 floods in Hanna-Urak, Quetta District.

The handover marks an important milestone under the Flood Reconstruction and Coordination Programme (FRCP), through which UNDP is supporting the construction of 700 climate and disaster-resilient houses in Balochistan. Designed to withstand future climate and disaster risks, the houses provide flood-affected families with safe shelter while helping reduce their vulnerability to future shocks.

The handover ceremony was attended by Mr. Mir Murad Baloch, Honorary Consul of Germany in Balochistan; Dr. Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan; Ms. Van Nguyen, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan; and senior representatives from the Government of Balochistan, including Mr. Zeeshan Javed, Secretary Planning, Planning and Development Department (P&DD); Mr. Usman Khalid, Secretary Implementation, Planning and Development Department (P&DD); Mr. Naveed Ahmed Sheikh, Director Planning and Coordination, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Balochistan; Mr. Yousuf Hashimi, Assistant Commissioner Quetta; and community members to celebrate the progress achieved through the initiative and reaffirm their commitment to advancing resilient recovery efforts in Balochistan.

Highlighting Germany's continued partnership with Pakistan in advancing recovery and resilience efforts, Her Excellency Ms. Ina Lepel, Ambassador of Germany to Pakistan, said: "Today, we are inaugurating more than houses. We are celebrating a concrete step towards recovery and greater resilience. With the Flood Reconstruction and Coordination Programme, German Development Cooperation together with UNDP is supporting both immediate reconstruction and stronger institutions for the future".

Highlighting the Government of Balochistan's commitment to resilient recovery, Mr. Zeshaan Javed, Planning Secretary, Government of Balochistan, welcomed the initiative and emphasized the importance of partnerships in addressing the province's development and recovery challenges. He stated: "The scale of Balochistan's challenges requires government, development partners, and communities to work together across all sectors. This initiative is a strong example of the impact that can be achieved through collaboration, supporting vulnerable communities while contributing to a more resilient and sustainable future for the province."

Built with resilience at their core, the newly constructed houses incorporate flood-resilient, seismic-resistant, and climate-adaptive features designed to withstand future hazards. For families who lost their houses during the 2022 floods, the handover represents not only access to safe, dignified shelter but also renewed hope for the future.

Dr. Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan, noted, "Recovery must go beyond replacing what was lost. It should also reduce future risks and create stronger foundations for communities to thrive. With financial support from the German Government, through KfW, and in partnership with the Balochistan government, UNDP is ensuring that these reconstruction efforts contribute to long-term resilience and sustainable development."

Beyond the handover, the initiative reflects a broader shift in post-flood recovery from short-term assistance to partnership-driven, risk-informed reconstruction that protects lives, preserves development gains, and strengthens the foundations for more resilient communities.

For further details, please contact Fizza Bangash, Communications Analyst, UNDP Pakistan, at [email protected]

About UNDP:

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.

Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP