Press centre
Media advisory
Launch of UNICEF Humanitarian Action Report 2009
WHO:Ms. Ann M. Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director
Ms Sigrid Kaag, UNICEF Regional Director, Middle East and North Africa
WHERE:
Palais des Nations, Geneva, Room III
WHEN:
Tuesday, 27 January at 9.30am (Geneva time)
WHAT:
The HAR is UNICEF’s annual funding appeal for children and women affected by protracted emergencies. This year’s HAR highlights the plight of children and women in humanitarian emergencies in a total of 36 countries, including Zimbabwe, Occupied Palestinian Territory and Myanmar. The report states that emergency needs in eastern and southern Africa have almost doubled, particularly in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Somalia. More than half the funds requested are for the continuation of UNICEF’s support to the five largest humanitarian operations worldwide: Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The HAR also notes the challenges presented by high food prices and climate change and their effects on already vulnerable
The report will go live on-line at 9:30am Geneva time at http://www.unicef.org/har09
Note to editors:
Ms. Veneman will be attending the World Economic Forum in Davos and will be available for interviews until 2 February
Attention broadcasters: Video footage is available free of charge at www.thenewsmarket.com/unicef
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
For UNICEF:
Véronique Taveau, UNICEF Geneva, tel : +41 22 909 5716, vtaveau@unicef.org
Patrick McCormick, UNICEF New York, tel: +1 212 326 7426 pmccormick@unicef.org
Deepha Pandian, UNICEF New York, tel : +1-917 402 6590 dpandian@unicef.org
