UNICEF Airlifts Humanitarian Supplies for Displaced, Conflict-Affected Children in Iraq
NEW YORK (June 18, 2014) – A cargo plane carrying emergency supplies for children affected by the conflict in Iraq arrived in Erbil, north-eastern Iraq, yesterday.
The plane, coming from Dubai, brought 33 metric tonnes of UNICEF supplies, including 10 tents, 2,000 blankets, 20 school-in-a-box kits, 5,000 hygiene kits, 20 early childhood development kits, and recreational kits as part of UNICEF’s ongoing response to the crisis.
“Our priority is to respond as quickly as possible to the Iraqi children’s needs and provide lifesaving humanitarian supplies, especially clean water and sanitation services, vaccinations against diseases like polio and measles, as well as education and child friendly spaces,” said Marzio Babille, UNICEF Iraq Representative.
UNICEF estimates that at least 450,000 children have become displaced as a result of the recent crisis in Mosul and months of clashes in neighboring Anbar province.
UNICEF Iraq, together with partners, will be targeting more than 35,000 children and their families to benefit from the supplies received on the plane.
“Besides attending to the basic needs of the Iraqi children impacted by this crisis, we should not forget the Syrian children who took refuge in Iraq. Our resources are stretched but we are doing all we can to respond to this double crisis,” continued Babille.
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About UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to save and improve children’s lives, 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 zero children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood.
For additional information, please contact:
Susannah Masur, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.880.9146, smasur@unicefusa.org