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Soccer stars unite in sporting event on behalf of Haitian children

Miami, 8 November 2004 – Soccer stars will meet in Miami on Saturday 13 November to support the boys and girls of Haiti, affected by the recent passage of Hurricane Jeanne.   A selection of the Brazilian professionals who comprised the team that won the 1994 World Cup—including players like Bebeto and Dunga—will face off against the current Haitian national team in a friendly match whose object is to focus attention on the tragic situation of Haiti and to raise funds to finance part of UNICEF’s activities on the island.

“Tropical Storm Jeanne affected more than 150,000 boys and girls in Haiti.  UNICEF, in coordination with the other United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), is supporting the work of reconstructing schools, rehabilitating health centres, and providing psychosocial support to families who are living in shelters since the storm and facing very traumatic experiences,” declared Nils Kastberg, UNICEF’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.  “This soccer match symbolizes our commitment to the Haitian people in the fact of this tragedy and our commitment to support their efforts to recover stability as son as possible.” 

The sporting match will take place in the Orange Bowl stadium and will be followed by a game for the World Cup 2006 classifications between Mexico and St. Kitts and Nevis.  Through ticket sales for these two matches, UNICEF will raise funds to finance programmes in health, nutrition, education and protection in Haiti.   

Currently Terre are 8,000 persons living in shelters in Haiti, and around 300,000 persons who have been affected by the recent hurricanes.  Boys and girls, making up part of the most vulnerable population, are exposed to grave conditions of vulnerability.  UNICEF has distributed 20,000 doses of tetanus vaccine, hygiene kits for 1,600 families, half a million water purification packets and high-protein biscuits for more than 20,000 boys and girls.  With the money raised, UNICEF in Haiti will carry out several different programmes in education, health and nutrition during the coming months.  

This new initiative demonstrates once again the commitment that Brazilian President Lula da Silva and the Brazilian people made on 18 August 2004 in Haiti.  On that day, a friendly match between the current national teams of both countries brought together thousands of persons in the national stadium of Port-au-Prince, thanks to the special support and collaboration of TRAFFIC.  

For additional information:

Viviana Limpias, Communications Officer for UNICEF’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.
(507) 315-7481. 

María Blanco, Communications Area for UNICEF’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. (507) 315- 7485.