UNICEF helps over 4,500 child flood victims go back to schoolSeptember 15, 2008 – Over 4,500 children from the six counties affected by floods begin the school year with school supplies received from UNICEF. The delivery of school supplies is part of the “Romania takes Roots” campaign launched by Realitatea TV and UNICEF to bring relief to the child victims of the July floods. UNICEF delivered packs containing school supplies for children in kindergartens, 1st grade, primary, secondary and high-school. The packs contain notebooks, pencils, colour pencils, pens and ink, erasers, rulers, geometry kits, watercolours and brushes, plasticine, story books and games. The total value of the school supplies distributed amounts to Euro 60.000. The fundraising campaign took place in the period August 4 – September 4 and brought in Euro 554,000 and in-kind donations of Euro 56,000. With these funds, UNICEF distributed emergency kits to the child victims, organised camps and will provide the most affected schools with furniture and didactic materials. Almost 100,000 individuals showed their solidarity by sending SMSs or by making pledges via the campaign phone numbers. 42 companies donated between Euro 1,000 and 40,000. Although the fundraising campaign has ended, many companies continue to make donations for the relief of the affected children. So far, UNICEF has utilised around half of the funds received, distributing packages with personal hygiene and sanitary items and backpacks with clothes and toys for 4,000 children from 42 villages and organising camps for over 850 children. Another 2,000 children who had not participated in camps had the chance to enjoy the games brought to them by the SOS Children’s Villages team. In the next phase, UNICEF will focus on providing the most affected schools with furniture, didactic materials and books for libraries. Contact person: Codruta Hedesiu, Communication Officer, UNICEF, 021.201.7864, chedesiu@unicef.org
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