LONDON, January 15 /PRNewswire/ -- A plane carrying GBP300,000 worth of UNICEF emergencies supplies for 10,000 families landed in Port au Prince Friday afternoon (GMT).
The plane, which was previously diverted to the Dominican Republic after the airport was temporarily closed, contains a range of supplies including oral rehydration salts, water purification tablets, tarpaulins and tents for temporary housing.
Help is on the way, UNICEF UK Executive Director David Bull says. Tomorrow we have more supplies being flown in from UNICEF's hubs in Panama, Copenhagen and Dubai over the weekend which will help more than 20,000 families.
These flights contain essential emergency materials including tarpaulins, water containers, blankets, health and medical kits, tents which are suitable for dispensaries or classrooms, portable storage capacity tents, plastic sheeting and recreation kits.
The Dubai flight is also being shared with the Word Food Programme.
As millions take temporary shelter in the streets again tonight UNICEF's global chief has voiced concern for the welfare of children and says UNICEF will also be working to ensure their care and protection.
It's in these emergency circumstances where a child could be plucked off the street and trafficked or taken away. And so one of the things we advocate for is to make sure that children are identified, that they're put in a safe place and then their families tracked so they cannot simply disappear from the scene, says Executive Director of UNICEF Ann Veneman.
UNICEF has launched an appeal for GBP9.8 million (US$15 million) to finance its emergency response to help women and children from January to March.
People may donate by going to http://www.unicef.org.uk or calling +44-(0)800-316-5353..
About UNICEF
UNICEF is the world's leading organisation working for children and their rights in more than 190 countries. As champion of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF works to help every child realise their full potential. Together with our partners, UNICEF delivers health care, nutrition, education and protection to children in urgent need, while working with governments to ensure they deliver on their promise to protect and promote the rights of every child. UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary donations from individuals, governments, institutions and corporations, and is not funded by the UN budget. For more information, please visit http://www.unicef.org.uk.
For more information, please contact: Terry Ally, Senior Media Officer, International Programmes and Emergencies, UNICEF UK, Tel: +44(0)20-7375-6014, 24-hour Press Line: +44(0)20-7336-8922
For interviews with UNICEF staff in Haiti contact: Tamar Hahn, Communications Specialist, Mobile: +507-6430-2505
SOURCE: Unicef UK
CONTACT: For more information, please contact: Terry Ally, Senior MediaOfficer, International Programmes and Emergencies, UNICEF UK, Tel:+44(0)20-7375-6014, 24-hour Press Line: +44(0)20-7336-8922 ; Forinterviews with UNICEF staff in Haiti contact: Tamar Hahn, CommunicationsSpecialist, Mobile: +507-6430-2505
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