UNICEF issues fundraising challenge for Vanuatu's children

UNICEF New Zealand issues fundraising challenge to reach 82,000 children in Vanuatu

Donate: www.unicef.org.nz/vanuatu

Social Media: #Morgan2Match

Images and video are available for download: http://uni.cf/1Eh6Z8J. Please credit UNICEF Pacific.

While the full scale of the catastrophe is yet to emerge, we now know that 82,000 children in Vanuatu have been affected and need immediate help.

“We’re overwhelmed by the huge outpouring of generosity that New Zealanders have shown towards our Pacific neighbours in Vanuatu over the last few days,” said UNICEF New Zealand Executive Director, Vivien Maidaborn.

UNICEF NZ and Campbell Live today announced that NZD$242K has been raised this week as a result of generous Kiwis making $3 text donations (TXT PAM to 2923). This, combined with additional fundraising efforts, adds to a total of $521K raised for UNICEF NZ’s Vanuatu emergency appeal.

Building on this momentum, UNICEF NZ Ambassadors Gareth and Jo Morgan today issued a challenge to all New Zealanders to do their bit for the people of Vanuatu who have suffered so greatly in the last week. “I thought about Vanuatu and the best way to help,” Mr Morgan said. “It’s hard to beat this method which is if I match dollar for dollar up to NZD$1million.”

New Zealanders can take up this challenge on social media by using the hashtag #Morgan2Match

Very few people within the 65 populated islands of Vanuatu have been left unscathed by the devastating impact of this super storm that was more powerful than Hurricane Katrina, and caused multiple disasters across the Pacific region.

The people of Vanuatu, who had little to start with, are now attempting to rebuild their lives and communities from scratch. Many will have lost everything and are struggling to survive.

Ms Maidaborn added, “This fundraising effort is more than just texting and donating. We’re building a movement to show that New Zealanders care and will continue to support the people of Vanuatu and other Pacific nations now and in years to come as they enter the long and arduous recovery stage.

“Along with the supreme generosity shown by Gareth and Jo Morgan and John Campbell, Campbell Live and their viewers, we have also received incredible support from our friends at Trade Me, and the International Cricket Council (ICC).”

The ICC has partnered with UNICEF Australia and UNICEF New Zealand ahead of this weekend’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 quarter finals to provide promotional opportunities and advertising during the matches.

The ICC, alongside the co-hosts of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket, will also jointly contribute USD$200,000 to support UNICEF in its aid and recovery programmes in the region.

UNICEF Pacific Communications Specialist Alice Clements, who is a New Zealander, added from her base in Port Vila, “Things are really starting to happen here. Aid is getting through and we’re really being able to assist people that need it most.

“UNICEF has immunized 1,000 children under the age of five against measles and our goal is to immunize 10,000 children in 10 days. This is crucial as a measles outbreak had occurred recently and immunisation is the only way to prevent an epidemic in the current conditions.”

Elsewhere in Vanuatu, water and sanitation supplies for 2,000 families have landed in Tanna and 48 cartons of health supplies which include basic emergency health kits and oral rehydration salt sachets have arrived into Port Vila by air. Supplies have also been committed to additional Pacific nations such as Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands.

Ms Maidaborn added, “Our Pacific neighbours, many of whom are friends and relatives, have suffered a catastrophic knockback. UNICEF NZ, like the rest of New Zealand, now wants to see Vanuatu not only rebuild, but build back better to mitigate against future disasters. To do this, we need funding, so we are inviting all Kiwis to join our fundraising movement and donate what they can at www.unicef.org.nz/vanuatu.”

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