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Press ReleaseAs aftershocks rattle El Salvador, UNICEF focuses on helping children copePsychosocial Support and Care for Unaccompanied Children In The Works Tuesday, 16 January 2001: UNICEF committed itself today to at least $500,000 in immediate relief aid for El Salvador, saying the money would be spent on preventing disease and helping restore a sense of normalcy for children traumatized and left homeless by Saturday's deadly earthquake and mudslide. UNICEF's priorities over the next few weeks, established in close co-operation with the Government, emphasize preventing the spread of disease; assisting in the provision of safe water and sanitation facilities at 13 shelter sites; supporting the swift resumption of education for children in the affected areas; and helping local authorities identify and care for unaccompanied children. The number of children who may have been separated from their families is not yet known. Close to 1,000 people are known to be dead and more than 4,000 may still be missing, according to local estimates. In conjunction with the UN country team and the Salvadoran Government, UNICEF is working to assess the specific needs of children. In the meantime, the Government of Japan has purchased medical supplies through UNICEF that are sufficient to serve 30,000 people for three months. The supplies were shipped from UNICEF's global warehouse in Copenhagen on Monday and are en route to El Salvador. When they arrive on Thursday - as a gift from the Japanese government - the supplies will be distributed among health facilities most in need. The medical kits include first aid materials, basic medicines and antibiotics, oral rehydration salts and other relief items. Estimating that it will spend $500,000 in the next few weeks to help meet basic emergency needs, UNICEF is preparing to provide:
Of particular concern to UNICEF is the psycho-social impact of the quake on children. UNICEF staff in San Salvador say the region is experiencing tremors every few minutes, and the anxiety this creates can be traumatizing to children and adults alike. UNICEF knows from experience that long after emergency food, shelter and health needs are met, the trauma can linger. "A child's first reaction to quakes and aftershocks - fear - will quickly fade," said Ingrid Leth, a clinical child psychologist with UNICEF. "This may give adults the impression that children have fully recovered. Unfortunately, the opposite is often true. Children are intensely aware of the emotional state of the adults around them, and trauma or stress experienced by adults can undermine a child's basic sense of security," Leth said. "That kind of anxiety can have lasting impact unless it is identified and addressed." Leth noted that UNICEF's emphasis on quickly reopening schools, even in tents and makeshift settings, helps restore a sense of normalcy for children, while also providing trained adults a place to monitor children and help those suffering from trauma. A return to the classroom also frees parents to focus on recovery and provides peace of mind for them, as well. UNICEF's country team in El Salvador is working closely with the UN system, the national Government and local authorities, as well as the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, and other relief organizations, including the Red Cross. To make a contribution, members of the public can visit www.unicef.org, or contact their local UNICEF office. UNICEF has National Committees in 37 countries, each devoted to advocacy, public education, and fundraising on behalf of the world's children. * * * For further information, please contact: Jehane Sedky-Lavandero, UNICEF Media, New York (212)
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