Intervention by Micronesia’s Permanent Representative, Jeem Lippwe
At the UNICEF Executive Board Annual Session 2026
Agenda Item 4: Annual Report on UNICEF Humanitarian Action
New York, 16 June 2026
Mr. President, Executive Director, distinguished delegates,
Micronesia thanks UNICEF for its 2026 Annual Report on Humanitarian Action. We commend its clarity, its honesty, and its unwavering commitment to protecting children in the world’s most vulnerable contexts.
For Micronesia, humanitarian action is not an abstract policy discussion. It is our lived reality. Our children stand on the front lines of a climate emergency they did not create. Yet the crises affecting small island developing States, particularly in the North Pacific, rarely make global headlines. When disaster strikes our islands, it often goes unseen, even as it devastates entire communities.
Micronesia underscores that the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, and the coordinated action of his team, including UNICEF through the UN Multi‑Country Office in Micronesia, is indispensable to effective humanitarian response. When Typhoon Sinlaku struck in April 2026, bringing destructive winds, flooding, and severe damage to schools, health facilities, and water systems, the RC’s team was among the very first to mobilize. Under his coordination, UNICEF conducted rapid assessments and delivered emergency supplies without delay. This unified UN response ensured that children and families received critical support at the moment they needed it most.
Micronesia applauds this responsiveness. It reflects the value of a UNICEF presence that understands local realities, maintains trusted relationships, and can act without delay. For small island States, this speed is not simply helpful – it is lifesaving.
The Annual Report rightly highlights the need for predictable financing, strengthened preparedness, and child‑centered humanitarian systems. We strongly echo these priorities. But we also emphasize the importance of ensuring that small, remote, and often overlooked SIDS are fully visible in global humanitarian planning and reporting. Our vulnerabilities may be less visible, but they are no less severe.
As climate‑driven disasters intensify, we urge UNICEF and partners to continue investing in early warning systems, resilient education and health services, and community‑based preparedness tailored to the unique geography of the Pacific. We also encourage deeper collaboration with national authorities to ensure that humanitarian action strengthens long‑term resilience.
Micronesia expresses its deep appreciation to UNICEF for its partnership, its presence, and its unwavering commitment to the rights and well‑being of every child, no matter how small the island or how distant the shore.
Thank you.
