UNICEF Global Appeal for 2012 Humanitarian Operations

UNICEF NZ (UN Children’s Fund)

www.unicef.org.nz/EmergencyFund

UNICEF (UN Children’s Fund) today launched the Humanitarian Action for Children Report 2012 – it appeals for US$1.28 billion to fund its humanitarian operations in 2012, assisting children in more than 25 countries globally.

The list of countries includes many long term emergencies, but the crisis in the Horn of Africa accounts for nearly a third of the total amount. West and Central Africa also has major funding needs, with over one million children in the Sahel region at risk from severe acute malnutrition.

The UNICEF report describes the daily situation of some of the world’s most vulnerable children and women caught up in emergencies across the world in countries as diverse as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen and Sri Lanka.
Dennis McKinlay, Executive Director at UNICEF NZ, said “New Zealanders were extremely generous in 2011, giving UNICEF the means to help some of the most vulnerable children in the world.

“Our main focus was on the emergency in the Horn of Africa, which Kiwis supported to the tune of almost NZ$700k. These funds literally saved children’s lives but, if more vulnerable women and children are to survive, much more needs to be done in this region and in other long-term ‘silent’ emergencies around the world which don’t receive the same level of attention.”

On such long-term emergencies, the UNICEF reports says: “Throughout the world, millions of children are living amidst crises that persist for years. While some of these emergencies attract significant media and political attention, others never reach international awareness, and many become ‘silent emergencies’ in which deep humanitarian need, existing far from the public eye, is too easily and quickly overlooked.”

The report notes the needs of children and their families displaced by violence stemming from the November 2010 elections in Cote d’Ivoire and the independence of South Sudan from the Republic of the Sudan; the five million people affected by a second year of flooding in Pakistan and the operation to rebuild Haiti two years after an earthquake shattered the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

It cites the wave of political turmoil and change in the Middle East and North Africa as creating humanitarian needs in the region especially in countries such as Yemen which is already affected by a long standing emergency crisis.
The report stresses the importance of emergency preparedness and building resilience - UNICEF knows from decades of experience that capacity building and mitigation before a situation reaches crisis point is critical in reducing death and injury in emergency situations.

The conflict in the East and Northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to have a profound impact on millions of people over many years, according to the report. As of June 2011, more than 1.5 million people, half of them children, were displaced by ethnic violence. Millions of children in conflict-affected areas were out of school, and attacks involving mass sexual violence were common in some provinces, and measles and cholera epidemics threatened the lives of many millions of children.

In Haiti, UNICEF and its partners continue to assist survivors of the 2010 quake and take steps to increase the resilience of the most vulnerable Haitians. In 2011, UNICEF helped reunite 2,500 separated children with their families and established 193 temporary schools to serve nearly 86,000 children.
Rima Salah, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, at the launch of UNICEF’s 2012 Humanitarian Action for Children report in Geneva today, said “We have achieved many positive results in emergency settings in 2011 but the urgent and long term needs of millions of children and their families will continue in 2012.
“UNICEF requires adequate funding in order to fulfil its commitments towards children. They not only represent the future but are the most vulnerable, and deserve generous and consistent support from the donor community.”

Donate to the UNICEF NZ Emergency Fund at www.unicef.org.nz/EmergencyFund

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About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.

The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.

UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Every $1 donated to us is worth at least $10 in the field thanks to the way we work in partnership with governments, local NGOs and other partners - www.unicef.org.nz

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