Solid progress for children: Haiti three months on

Solid progress for children: Haiti three months on

Wellington 12 April, 2010. – Three months after the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti, good progress has been made for children, but much still remains to be done.

UNICEF NZ Communications Manager, David Youngmeyer, says that UNICEF has been on the ground in Haiti since 1949 and was able to start providing emergency aid immediately following the quake.

“UNICEF continues to play a key role in coordinating the aid response and providing relief on the ground in partnership with the Haitian Government, other UN agencies and NGOs.”

UNICEF’s main areas of work have traversed education, primary health care, child protection, nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene.

“In education, UNICEF and partners have provided 3,000 school tents, more than 800 school-in-a-box kits, 1,500 early childhood development kits, and 2,200-plus recreation kits, along with school furniture. UNICEF has worked with government to train new teachers and aims to get 700,000 children back to school over the next two months.

“A UNICEF emergency vaccination campaign carried out with the World Health Organisation and others has reached more than 107,000 children. UNICEF is also working with the Government to re-establish a routine immunization programme, including ensuring the functioning of the cold-chain system.

“UNICEF and partners are reaching more than 23,000 children daily with psycho-social support initiatives, including child-friendly spaces, and recreational and sport activities. Over 760 separated children have been registered, allowing for family tracing to take place. With the very real threat of child trafficking, UNICEF continues to support government monitoring of high-risk areas such as border crossings.

“UNICEF has played a leading role in the supply of vital therapeutic food and other supplies for children at-risk from malnutrition, as well as training Ministry of Health staff in management of acute malnutrition.

“The demand for clean water, sanitation and proper hygiene has been huge. UNICEF and partner agencies are now providing more than a million people at some 400 sites with drinking water each day. Around 5,000 latrines have been delivered – benefiting half a million people – and promotion of hygienic practices such as hand washing is ongoing.”

Mr Youngmeyer says that UNICEF is focused on reaching the most vulnerable and poor children in the most marginalised communities in Haiti. The three main priority areas in the year ahead are ensuring that children are in school; preventing and addressing the threat of under-nutrition in children; and protecting the most vulnerable children from violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect.

“Relief efforts in Haiti have come a long way, but there is still much to do. We must ensure that children, young people and their families are at the centre of rebuilding efforts.”

ENDS

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