unniverse – dispatches from frontlines

Field Report

WORLD LEADERS SHOULDN’T FAIL GAZA’S CHILDREN; NO KITES CAN FLY IN A BATTLEFIELD

ByunniMarch 22, 2025

A ceasefire is a ray of hope. When a ceasefire collapses and guns start firing again, the true cost is human lives. Two or more parties may start or fight a war or conflict, but it is children, women, and other civilians who suffer most and pay the price. A broken truce

Field Report

WHAT DOES PEACE MEAN FOR GAZA’S CHILDREN?

ByunniJanuary 17, 2025

Four vital steps for supporting children after 15 months of suffering. Dr Unni Krishnan, Plan International’s Global Humanitarian Director, offers his expertise and experience after the announcement of ceasefire in Gaza. For children in a war zone, peace means hope.

Field Report

DEFENDERS OF HUMANITY

ByunniAugust 18, 2024

A TRIBUTE ON WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY – 19th August In our world, the darkest moments are defined by the loudest cries of children. These cries echo through disaster-stricken landscapes, war zones and refugee camps. As disasters and wars reshape lives and devastate

Field Report

BETWEEN FEAR AND HOPE: CHILDREN OF SUDAN’S BRUTAL WAR

ByunniMay 25, 2024

The brutal impact of the war in Sudan continues to spread beyond its borders and has a catastrophic impact on children. Donors need to do more and act now, and the world needs to be compassionate. 88 pc of refugees who arrived in Chad in the past 13 months are children and

Field Report

GIVING GAZA’S CHILDREN A LAST CHANCE

ByunniApril 11, 2024

Illustration: Martine Julianne Markussen, Plan International Norway Famine means two terrible choices- starvation, or survival only to suffer in future In the bombed-out desolation of northern Gaza, famine is a clear and present risk. In mid-March, the Integrated Food

Field Report

HAITI’S CHILDREN CALL FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE WORLD

ByunniMarch 6, 2024

Unni Krishnan Gonaïves, Haiti: March 2024. “I want to become a doctor.” In the relative comfort of a Child Friendly Space in this conflict zone in Haiti, Sylvie*,13, shared her dream. A two-hour bumpy SUV ride from the western city of Gonaïves takes you to Gros Morne,

Field Report

GAZA 100 DAYS: STOP THE WAR ON CHILDREN

ByunniJanuary 17, 2024

Children never start wars, but suffer the most. The killing of 10,000 children. Blasts leading to amputation—sometimes carried out without anaesthetics—and lifelong disabilities. Entire populations, including pregnant women and children, facing hunger, a quarter of them

Field Report

GAZA AND ISRAEL: A CEASEFIRE IS THE FIRST STEP TO GIVE CHILDREN A CHANCE

ByunniNovember 7, 2023

Children suffer the most from wars, yet have no control over them. Dr Unni Krishnan, Plan International’s Global Humanitarian Director, calls for compassion and ceasefire to prevent the death of more innocent children. One of the cruelest ironies of war is that they are

Field Report

WORKING WITH A GLASS AND A HALF OF OPTIMISM

ByunniAugust 19, 2023

19 August is World Humanitarian Day. ‘No Matter What’ is the theme for this year August 19 is World Humanitarian Day. It is a day to recognise the selfless efforts of humanitarian workers, who are on the frontlines in war zones, disaster settings and in refugee camps,

Field Report

TURN YOUR BATTLEFIELDS INTO FOOTBALL PITCHES

ByunniJune 5, 2023

Art work done by children from Ukraine while in a refugee shelter.