The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was created in 1946 to help European children devastated by World War II and now works in 193 countries providing vaccines, nutrition, water, education, and protection. Kofi Annan served as the 7th UN Secretary-General from 1997 to 2006 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for his efforts in peacekeeping and humanitarian aid. Barack Obama became the first African American president of the United States in 2008 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his work in international diplomacy and cooperation.