UNICEF UK

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, is a global champion for children’s rights which makes a lasting difference by working with communities and influencing governments.

Burma Cyclone

Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar (Burma) a week ago, killing tens of thousands of people and leaving an estimated 1 million people without shelter or clean water.

UNICEF's office in Myanmar reacted quickly and essential supplies – including first aid kits and oral rehydration salts – have been delivered to areas including the hardest-hit Laputta township. Teams are now also working to reach children in the other badly affected districts.

UNICEF has had a permanent presence in Myanmar (Burma) since 1950. Our main work in the country is to provide children with basic health care and access to clean water. UNICEF's local presence, and the supplies we had pre-positioned in the country, meant we could respond quickly, delivering urgently needed aid. But we need to do more.

Daily reports from UNICEF staff in the area are revealing the full extent of the devastation and there is an increasing need to reach more people who may have now been without water, food and shelter for over a week. Women and children make up more than 60% of the population, and it is they who are in the greatest danger. These vulnerable children require urgent life-saving assistance.

UNICEF is already providing relief supplies to affected areas but we urgently need to raise funds to help make sure that children and their families have access to clean safe water and shelter. With a lack of water and sanitation facilities, there is a great risk of outbreak of water borne disease. Children are especially at risk – and that’s why we need your help today.

• £20 could buy 15 blankets to keep babies and toddlers warm and protected from the elements

• £33 could buy 3,000 water purification tablets each treating 200 litres of water, enabling children to drink and wash safely

• £56 could provide a family water kit for 10 families, offering early response in an emergency

• £65 could provide seven first aid kits, containing bandages, tape, gloves, scissors, a blanket, eye ointment and disinfectant

• £120 could provide 20 large reinforced plastic protective sheets to give people temporary shelter

Children in particular are at serious risk of diarrhoeal dehydration, caused by dirty water, and without urgent assistance thousands more may die.

UNICEF has set up the Myanmar Cyclone Children's Appeal. Please go to the link if you would like to learn more.

Martin Bell has recorded a video of the UNICEF work in Myanmar (Burma).Please be assured that supplies are getting through and UNICEF have people on the ground delivering vital services.

The emergency fundraising kit is available now for people to order from UNICEF's helpdesk or downloadable from their website.

A gift from you today will provide desperately needed supplies to help children at risk

So please, help the children affected in Myanmar.

China's Earthquake

On 12 May, the largest earthquake to hit China in a generation struck Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, killing tens of thousands of people, with thousands more injured. Buildings and schools collapsed, burying children under the rubble. Sichuan is one of the poorer provinces of China with a large ethnic minority population. There are around 2.3 million school-age children in the hardest hit counties.

UNICEF China is sending emergency supplies including health kits, tents and water supplies following the Chinese Government’s request for assistance. Over the next few weeks, it is estimated that approximately £2.5 million will be needed to fully respond to children's needs in terms of health, water, shelter, education and protection.

Prior to the earthquake, UNICEF had been working extensively throughout Sichuan province. In the worst affected counties, UNICEF is already running projects on early childhood development, HIV/AIDS, child protection and local planning.

 

About UNICEF UK

UNICEF UK, which was established in 1957, is one of 37 national committees for UNICEF, based industrial countries and:

* Promotes and advocated for children's rights in the UK
* Works with local partner organisations, schools, hospitals and businesses
* Raises money to support UNICEF’s programmes internationally.

 

Jane Hastings (Northern England Region) is the UKPAC liaison with UNICEF UK. Jane said, "I am really excited about this important role. We have done some wonderful projects with UNICEF over the years, such as trafficking, maleria, tetinus and education in Pakistan and School-in-a-Box."

In November Jane visited The Gambia with UNICEF on a fact-finding mission. The fascinating report of Jane's visit to the Gambia is available by clicking the link.  It is in PDF format, so will download quickly.

To read the full story of the new UNICEFUK/UKPAC project Born Free Appeal, go to the link.

To visit UNICEF UK's Soroptimist page on their website, go to the link.

UNICEF works in over 160 countries and territories to fulfil children’s rights to health and nutrition; education; emergency relief; protection; and water and sanitation. By working in partnership with others, from governments and teachers to youth groups and mothers UNICEF is a driving force for people throughout the world working to ensure a better future for children.

 

UNICEF is unique within the United Nations family in that it receives no statutory UN funding - it is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from governments, the public and greeting card sales. As a result, UNICEF is regarded as a distinct entity in itself.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

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