After the Wenchuan earthquake on May 12, 28, UNICEF was one of the first international organizations to enter the disaster area to participate in the rescue operation of the China government. By the end of November 28, UNICEF had provided materials and technical assistance to the earthquake-affected areas with a total value of more than 17 million US dollars.

in the early emergency relief stage after the earthquake, UNICEF delivered a large number of urgently needed aid materials, infrastructure and technical training to Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi and other disaster-stricken areas. On May 2th, the first batch of 16 tons of relief materials provided by UNICEF arrived in Sichuan disaster area, including tents, quilts and school supplies. On May 3th, UNICEF transported 86 tons of medical materials with a total value of $89, to the hardest hit areas, providing basic medical support for about 1.4 million people for three months. UNICEF provided water purifiers, water purification tablets, water reservoirs and mobile toilets to the disaster-stricken areas, and trained more than 5, local water conservancy and sanitation workers to help improve local water and environmental sanitation conditions. The United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organization and the International Red Cross jointly launched the Measles Initiative to provide measles vaccine to more than 7.3 million children in the earthquake-stricken areas. In addition, UNICEF also provided prefabricated classrooms, school tents, clothes, game bags, sports bags, stationery, teachers' utensils, schoolbags and books to the students in the disaster areas. On November 22nd, UNICEF and the All-China Women's Federation jointly launched the "Children Protection Project in Sichuan Disaster Area" to combat violence against children and prevent trafficking in women and children.

In the post-disaster reconstruction stage, UNICEF put forward the principle of "Rebuilding Better", that is, rebuilding a better life for children affected by the earthquake than before. In order to provide long-term psychological assistance and intervention for children in the disaster areas, UNICEF has set up 4 "child-friendly homes" in the resettlement sites in Sichuan earthquake-stricken areas. More than 1 prefabricated classrooms were built in the remote mountainous areas of Gansu affected by the earthquake, and more than 25, children in the disaster areas were provided with school supplies, teaching tools and sports game packages. UNICEF is also rebuilding water supply systems and sanitation facilities for schools and hospitals in disaster areas, and providing training in maternal and child health care for county-level and township medical workers.