Story perspectives

UNICEF warns 273 million children are out of school

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 3:56 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Catherine Russell Urges Investment

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell urged urgent investment in Bangladesh’s children after her October 2026 visit.
U.N. envoy Gordon Brown warned that 273 million children are out of school worldwide.
Global Partnership for Education mobilized $3.5 billion for reforms in over 90 low-income countries.
Education Cannot Wait announced $22 million for Sudanese children and other crisis-affected learners.
UNICEF pledged $3 million to support up to 13,000 vulnerable children in Gaza and the West Bank.

Summary

Ziroat Mirziyoyeva Chairs

Uzbekistan First Lady Ziroat Mirziyoyeva will chair the Global Network for children with illnesses for two years.
The summit opened the Imkon centre in Samarkand, serving 150 inpatients and 100 outpatients monthly.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reported preschool enrollment increased from 27.7% to 78%.
The WHO aims for at least 60% survival of children with cancer by 2030.
Speakers cited early-diagnosis gaps, medicine shortages and financing hurdles as obstacles in low-income settings.

History

Historical Context

In September 2000 the United Nations adopted eight Millennium Development Goals at the Millennium Summit, building on Kofi Annan’s Millennium Declaration and the OECD’s “Shaping the 21st Century” plan. A 2005 G8 pledge of $40-55 billion debt relief and a September 2010 UN conference that launched a global action plan drove education and health financing until the goals gave way to the Sustainable Development Goals in 2016.

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Catherine Russell Urges Investment

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell urged urgent investment in Bangladesh’s children after her October 2026 visit.
U.N. envoy Gordon Brown warned that 273 million children are out of school worldwide.
Global Partnership for Education mobilized $3.5 billion for reforms in over 90 low-income countries.
Education Cannot Wait announced $22 million for Sudanese children and other crisis-affected learners.
UNICEF pledged $3 million to support up to 13,000 vulnerable children in Gaza and the West Bank.

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