Across the globe, it is estimated that 371,504 babies will be welcomed into the world on New Year's Day 2021. UNICEF celebrates new lives entering the world on January 1, as always. According to the organization, babies born this year would have a different world than those who were born one year before.
The year 2021's first baby will come from Fiji in the Pacific; on the other hand, the US will welcome its last. Half of the estimated live births will come from the ten countries: 59,995 from India, 35,615 from China, 21,439 from Nigeria, 14,161 from Pakistan, 12,336 from Indonesia, 12,006 from Ethiopia, 10,312 from the US, 9,455 from Egypt, 9,236 from Bangladesh, and 8,640 from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Roughly, it is estimated that 140 million babies will be born in 2021, with an average life expectancy of 84 years old.
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A different world for the babies born this year
Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, explained that children born this year would have a different world than those born a year ago. She said that a new year is an opportunity to reimagine a new world from before.
Fore said that it would help build a fairer, safer, and healthier world for the children because they would inherit what we build for them.
Celebration of its 75th anniversary
UNICEF celebrates its 75th anniversary this year too. The organization and its partners will celebrate by holding events and announcements for the year. They want to commemorate three-quarters of a century of protecting children.
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UNICEF has been there to help children from conflict, disease, and exclusion. The organization also defends children with their right to education, health, and survival.
Fore explained that UNICEF's work is greatly needed because the world experiences a global pandemic. Many people are suffering not only from an economic slowdown but also from rising poverty and deepening inequality.
The executive director also stated that UNICEF had been there to protect children of the world for the last 75 years. She noted that the organization has been helping with displacements, conflicts, natural disasters, and crises.
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Helps children speak up for themselves
UNICEF wants to make sure that the children's voices are heard, and they could speak up for their rights, so they are renewing their commitment to protecting them as a new year starts.
It has launched the "Reimagine" campaign to help children cope with the global pandemic. UNICEF's goal is to prevent COVID-19 from leaving a lasting crisis in children. It will use the campaign to issue an urgent appeal to the government.
Besides that, UNICEF would ask the help of the public, donors, and the private sector to join them to reimagine a better, post-pandemic world for the children of the world.
