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Press ReleaseUNICEF launches appeal for at-risk childrenAn effort to reach the most desperate: UNICEF seeking $207 million for children caught in crisis zones 4 December 2000: Seeking to protect children in crisis zones from disease, starvation, and exploitation, as well as to provide them with education and "a chance to make it in the world," the United Nations Children's Fund appealed today for $207 million to help the world's most vulnerable children throughout the coming year. "We are making this appeal on behalf of children caught in the very worst of conditions. Children trying to survive brutal conflict and inhuman poverty. Children who have been pushed to the very bottom rung of existence," said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy. She noted the target sum is a "conservative, minimal estimate" of what is needed. UNICEF's appeal covers at-risk children in 20 humanitarian crisis zones, including some of the most difficult places in the world to live. As part of a co-ordinated United Nations effort, UNICEF is seeking $207 million to provide immunizations against disease, basic schooling, clean water and decent sanitation, AIDS education, mine awareness, and protection from abuse and exploitation, including the recruitment of children as combatants. The money will be used to help mobilize parents, community leaders, local and national authorities and children themselves in these efforts. Bellamy argued that the seemingly intractable nature of many of the conflicts could not justify a failure to reach out to the children affected. "The very essence of humanitarian action is to protect those most in need," she said. "Children born or being raised in the shadow of war, AIDS, poverty and discrimination deserve our greatest efforts." UNICEF noted that the countries and regions in the appeal have some of the worst indicators of child survival and development. For example:
"Meeting these challenges will require real political commitment from the international community and national actors to create the humanitarian space needed to access these children," the UNICEF chief added. "Humanitarian agencies often need to reach across lines of conflict to provide essential services. To do that there must be an unbending political commitment to provide all humanitarian workers - local and international - with security." Bellamy noted that if the world can immunize 47 million children against polio in the midst of war, as humanitarian workers succeeded in doing this year in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Sudan and other countries, it is also possible to educate those same children, ensure their basic health, and protect them from exploitation and violence. Bellamy expressed deep appreciation to the donor governments that have supported previous appeals for children and women in crisis. She noted that in 2000, donors had provided almost $233 million for children in crisis. She also thanked the business community and the general public, whose donations provide about one-third of UNICEF's annual budget of $1.1 billion. Bellamy noted that the $207 million appeal for 2001 constitutes a quarter of UNICEF's overall spending - an indication of the organization's commitment to tackling the toughest problems. "With this appeal, our simple aim is to show the world what can be done to advance the rights of children in the worst of circumstances. And if we can do that, there's no telling what we can do," Bellamy said. * * * UNICEF's appeal document, entitled "Humanitarian Action 2001," provides details of the relief programmes the agency intends to carry out in 19 countries, territories or regions together with United Nations and non-governmental partners. The full document can be viewed on UNICEF's website at www.unicef.org. Targeted in the appeal are:
See also: The Forgotten People: Underfunded Appeals ***** For further information, please contact: Lynn Geldof, UNICEF Media, Geneva (4122) 909-5531 Alfred Ironside, UNICEF Media, New York (212) 326-7261 |
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