yclone Evan Emergency Relief Under Way

UNICEF NZ (UN Children’s Fund)
Media Release
December 19, 2012

Cyclone Evan Emergency Relief Under Way
UNICEF NZ Emergency Appeal www.unicef.org/pacific or 0800 800 194 -

In the aftermath of Cyclone Evan, UNICEF (UN Children’s Fund) is working with the governments of Samoa and Fiji to keep children safe by providing oral rehydration salts and tetanus vaccine as well as assisting with a public information campaign promoting lifesaving messages.

UNICEF NZ Executive Director Dennis McKinlay says preventing the outbreak of disease in affected areas will be key, especially given flooding in parts of Fiji and Samoa. Water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, leptospirosis and typhoid can be fatal, particularly for children.

Some 63,000 sachets of oral rehydration salts (ORS) are being provided to the Ministry of Health in Fiji and 5,000 doses of tetanus toxoid vaccine to Samoa.

Oral Rehydration Salts provide a simple, inexpensive treatment that will prevent dehydration from diarrhoea. Making sure families are aware of the risks and how to address them, and are supported with access to clean water and proper sanitation is also essential.

UNICEF is working with Fiji’s Ministry of Health and the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) on nationwide broadcast of radio messages focusing on protection, nutrition and key lifesaving messages. Families are being reminded of the need to keep children away from floodwaters and damaged buildings, to boil all drinking water, to continue to exclusively breastfeed infants under six months old and to avoid spoiled food.

According to reports, more than 8,000 people in Fiji and 7,000 in Samoa had been displaced after Tropical Cyclone Evan and were sheltering in evacuation centres. Water and electricity shortages across both countries are creating a potentially dangerous situation for thousands. UNICEF is in discussion with emergency partners to prepare for any eventual disease outbreak through the provision of other essential health supplies.

UNICEF NZ yesterday launched an emergency appeal to support immediate relief efforts. The agency is also prepared to assist the people of Samoa and Fiji in the weeks and months ahead.

“Our immediate focus is on providing relief. But in the weeks to come, families will need ongoing support to rebuild their lives,” Dennis McKinlay said.

Initial damage assessments from Samoa stated seven schools had been completely destroyed, and many others have suffered major damage. “We are still awaiting assessments from Fiji but we will be ready to provide back-to-school support, if needed, in the coming weeks,” Mr McKinlay said.

FAST FACTS
(Source: United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs 17.12.12)
SAMOA (pop 187,820)
• 7,739 people in evacuation centres & churches
• 421 houses completely destroyed, 1,209 households affected (on average 8 people per household)
• 7 schools destroyed, 9 suffered major damage, minor damage to 35.
FIJI (pop 837,271)
• 8,419 people in evacuation centres

ENDS

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