THE CHILDREN’S EMERGENCY FUND

Around the world, conflict, climate emergencies, hunger and displacement are putting millions of children at risk. Their homes, their education and their lives, are under threat. Whatever the crisis, children are always the most vulnerable.  

But children are also extremely resilient. With the right support, they can overcome even the most unimaginable challenges.  

Every child deserves to be safe, to learn, to grow, to play. With your support, we can protect children, deliver lifesaving aid, and ensure they have a future filled with hope. 

Our Children’s Emergency Fund is the backbone of our emergency work. It’s a pot of reserves that allows us to act before, during and after an emergency. Donating to the Children’s Emergency Fund is the fastest, most strategic and impactful way to support children in crisis – from sudden disasters to protracted crises or preparing for future shocks.

Here’s why:  

• Speed saves lives. We can release funds the moment a crisis hits, so we never have to wait to reach children when every second counts
• Its’ flexibility means our teams can use the money wherever and however it will have the greatest impact for children, adapting to changing needs in the most unpredictable contexts
• It funds the under-reported emergencies as well as the high-profile ones, so children’s lives aren’t waged against global headlines or political agendas
• It bridges critical funding gaps at a time when resources are more strained than ever
• Early action saves lives. It helps communities anticipate and mitigate the impacts of predictable disasters and builds resilience against future shocks, protecting children before emergencies escalate. 

Save the Children has over 100 years of experience responding to crises.  

Every day, in the world’s toughest places, we stand side by side with children to protect their rights, support their recovery, and help them build brighter futures.  

Here’s how we help:

• Screening and treatment for children with malnutrition, including the provision of ready‑to‑use therapeutic food
• Rapid response to disease outbreaks such as cholera, Ebola, mpox and measles
• Vaccinations and essential primary healthcare services for children and their families
• Primary healthcare and the provision of mobile health teams to give hard to reach communities access to healthcare
• Training for healthcare workers to strengthen local health systems
• Equipping health centres with the supplies and resources they need to treat children, their families and their communities effectively
• Access to education, even in war zones and disaster-affected communities
• Winter kits, hygiene supplies and essentials to help families survive
• Psychological support to help children cope with unimaginable adversity
• Cash grants so families can meet their basic needs and rebuild
• Child protection at the heart of every response, ensuring children aren’t exposed to new risks
• Preparedness and resilience work to reduce the impact of crises before they strike
• Advocacy to protect children’s rights, amplifying their voices when they call for safety and justice
   

Everyday, we continue working to ensure children survive, stay safe and keep learning, no matter what.

In 2025, we responded to 113 emergencies across 63 countries. 

From the tropical storms and floods in southeast Asia to bridging funding gaps in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to reaching earthquake-stricken areas of Afghanistan and Myanmar or Yemen's forgotten crisis, donations to the Children's Emergency Fund ensure children survive, stay safe and keep learning, no matter what. 

In the past year, we’ve seen major cuts to foreign aid budgets by governments around the world, even as global instability deepens. Humanitarian need is rising, while the resources available to meet it are shrinking. In that context, our work, and how we do it, is more vital than ever.

In 2026, Save the Children will keep children at the heart of every response. We’ll advocate for their rights and ensure their voices are heard.