UNICEF in action
Responding swiftly to win the battle for children's survival– against disease, a lack of basic services and poor nutrition
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© UNICEF/oPt/Iyad El Baba |
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Children taking shelter at a United Nations school in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Jan. 6, 2009. |
UNICEF has a permanent presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt) with one office in Gaza and three in the West Bank in Jenin, Nablus and Hebron. Currently, there are seventy-five staff.
Operating in oPt since 1981, UNICEF assistance in Gaza included the provision of vaccines and micronutrients for children; the provision of essential drugs, strengthening water and sanitation networks and access; capacity development within the health and education sectors; and the provision of special support to at-risk adolescents.
UPDATE ON UNICEF RESPONSE- GAZA EMERGENCY
As of 15 January 2009- 7:00PM Jerusalem /Noon US EST
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
- 66,250 bottles of 1.5 litres given to Palestinian Red Crescent Society for distribution to benefit 66,000 conflict affected person
- 500 family water kits given to Palestinian Red Crescent Society for 5000 families of 6 people
- 50 water family kits for 6,000 persons (pre-positioned with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society previously)
Health and Nutrition
- 355 first aid kits (3,500 people), 20 resuscitation kits (200-300 persons), 13 emergency health kits sufficient for 10,000 people for a period of 3 months
- 2 12KVA generators given to UNRWA to support the blood bank preservation
- 8 obstetric and midwifery kits sufficient for 400 deliveries (to address the needs of at least 120 newborns/day to safe and clean delivery and 560 high risk pregnancy women per month)
- 10,000 L3 fuel tanks to maintain cold chain system (to ensure vaccine security)
- Basic essential supplements of vitamins A and D, iron folate to 45,000 infants and under-five children accessing the 35 out 58 Ministry of Health PHC centers and UNRWA clinics
- Supporting two out of four Ard EL Ansan therapeutic treatment centres to address the needs of up to 8,000 malnourished children
- Providing policy guidelines on infant and young child feeding practices in Emergencies including the use of breastmilk substitutes
- Coordinating with the Ministry of Health and the Food Security/ Nutrition cluster, to harmonise and map out partners’ capacity to deliver, to harmonise technical guidelines on nutritional supplements and ready to use therapeutic foods to maximise impact for children and women.
Child Protection
- 100,000 copies of a leaflet on Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) and UXO were printed and distributed in Gaza Child Protection partners
- Two radio spots for parents on how to protect children during bombardment and shelling as well as how to provide children with emotional support are being aired daily
- Supporting a national NGO which runs a toll phone line providing one-on-one support to parents and children daily between 9:00AM-midnight.
Update: 19 January 2009
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