Despite Huge Challenges in Access UNICEF Delivers Much Needed Supplies to North Eastern Syria

NEW YORK (April 14, 2015) – UNICEF completed the delivery of 43 trucks of much needed humanitarian supplies to Qamishli, north east of Syria.

The trucks passed through the Nusyabin crossing point in Turkey over the past few days and will reach 2.3 million people in need.

“The delivery of this much needed humanitarian assistance comes at a critical time when access all over Syria is becoming a challenge for UNICEF and other humanitarian actors” said Hanaa Singer, UNICEF Representative in Syria.

The shipment includes water treatment products, hygiene and baby kits, water purification tablets, washing powder and soap, diarrheal disease sets, and midwifery kits.

The assistance will target the recently displaced people who have sought refuge in the area fleeing violence in Al-Hassakeh city, Tal Abyad, rural areas of Deir Az-Zour, Rural Damascus and Homs.

UNICEF estimates that there are around 1 million children in need of humanitarian assistance in north eastern Syria. Across the country there are more than 5.6 million Syrian children in urgent need including more than 2 million living in hard-to-reach areas with limited or no access to humanitarian assistance.

“This is a significant break-through but it’s certainly not enough and we will need more to reach children impacted by the conflict across the country especially those living in hard-to-reach areas” added Singer.

About UNICEF

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

For more information, contact:

Marci Greenberg, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.922.2464, mgreenberg@unicefusa.org