Humanitarian aid in hurricane disasters
Hurricanes and cyclones are common natural disasters that wreak havoc not just among communities with basic of under-developed infrastructure but even in rich nations.
When Hurricane Katrina struck the city of New Orleans, UNICEF provided unprecedented assistance to the US Government to help with hurricane relief efforts along the Gulf Coast. More regularly, UNICEF is on the ground in communities from Latin America and the Caribbean to the South Pacific island nations that are vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes.
In the immediate aftermath of devastating storms like Ondoy/Ketsana in the Philippines or Hurricane Mitch in Honduras, UNICEF provides lifesaving emergency relief, like clean water and jerry cans, vaccinations and bednets, and therapeutic food to combat malnutrition. In Haiti, UNICEF pre-positions supplies to ensure the safe evacuation an relocation of children from flooded areas and displacement camps and the safeguarding of schools and school supplies.
UNICEF programs worldwide help communities recovering from hurricane disasters to build back better with improved access to education, stronger health systems and reliable disaster preparedness plans.
Hurricane Relief News Stories
February 15, 2012
Assisting victims of cyclone Giovanna in Madagascar
UNICEF, the national office for disaster response and other humanitarian partners are gearing up their relief operation for people affected by cyclone Giovanna that struck Madagascar yesterday. The category 4 cyclone made landfall about 62 miles south of the city of Tamatave. UNICEF has stocks of basic items in the country to help 66,000 people through the first few days, such as water purification devices and mosquito nets. There are also school kits for 45,000 children in stock, which could be distributed to those in need immediately.
December 15, 2011
UNICEF at 65: Looking back, thinking ahead
On December, 11 UNICEF celebrated its 65th anniversary. Created in 1946 from the residual resources from the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration to secure the fate of Europe’s children, few then imagined that it would still be in existence today. Principles of equity were part of UNICEF's guiding vision from the very day of its creation and form part of its mission statement.
November 8, 2010
UNICEF responding to children's needs in storm-struck Haiti
UNICEF teams are in the field and in Port-au-Prince conducting assessments and preparing to deploy supplies and human resources in addition to those already prepositioned to respond to emergency needs in hardest-hit areas following the passage of Hurricane Tomas.
