UNICEF: Haiti disaster ‘tip of the iceberg’

Haiti disaster ‘tip of the iceberg’

UNICEF appeals for $1.6b to meet major global emergencies

As global attention focuses on efforts to provide life-saving support to the people of Haiti, UNICEF has released a report that spotlights the most severe crises impacting children and women around the world.

UNICEF’s annual Humanitarian Action Report highlights the situation of children and women in 28 countries and territories that have been identified as being in the most desperate need and seeks $1.6 billion to help them. UNICEF responds to more than 200 emergencies each year.

The report identifies three global trends – climate change, global economic volatility and the changing nature of conflict – that are particularly affecting vulnerable children.

UNICEF NZ Executive Director, Dennis McKinlay, says that Haiti was already classified as ‘in crisis’ before the earthquake hit last month, as the report went to print.

“Haiti had weathered multiple hurricanes in addition to civil unrest, leaving a fragile society. The earthquake compounded these existing problems, destroying the lives, livelihoods and homes of many Haitian’s, and crippling the infrastructure and systems needed for humanitarian actions to be effective.”

“Sadly the Haiti disaster is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to emergencies and humanitarian needs around the world. Each year, UNICEF responds to more than 200 emergencies all over the globe. Around half of emergencies are caused by natural disasters, with most of the rest being conflict or health-related.

“The ongoing global financial crisis, compounded by unstable food prices, is causing increases in poverty and malnutrition, and severely threatening progress that has been made for children in some developing countries. Children and women have been especially hard hit.

“In 2009 many more poor families were forced to cut meals and reduce the quality of their food intake. Many families, including in the Pacific, rely on remittances from relatives overseas. A one percent fall in GDP in the remitters country results in a 4 per cent drop in remittances. This has contributed to the more than 1 billion people worldwide left hungry in 2009 – a rise of at least 100 million over 2008.

“Children are always among the most severely affected, and disasters put them at increased risk of abuse and grave violations of their rights, including sexual violence, killing and maiming, and forced recruitment into armed groups.”

Mr McKinlay says the 28 countries and territories in the report are included on the basis of the scale and chronic or protracted nature of the crisis, the severity of its impact on children and women, and the potential to bring about life-saving results. The five countries needing the most support are Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.

“In emergencies, urgent action is imperative to save lives, ensure access to safe water, adequate sanitation and hygiene, health, and nutrition. Water-borne diseases like diarrhoea and cholera can be deadly to young children. It’s vital that children are protected from violence and abuse, are reunited with family, and are able to continue with their schooling – even under the worst of circumstances.”

The report also emphasizes the increasing importance of partnerships to meet the needs of children and families in emergencies. UNICEF is working with partners to achieve results, including humanitarian organizations, civil society groups, the corporate and private sector, and foundations.

“Only by working together can we effectively deliver on our mission to promote and protect children’s rights, help meet their basic needs and to keep them safe from harm.”

To read a full copy of the report, please visit: www.unicef.org.nz (available online from Friday morning).

ENDS