UNICEF Thailand issues emergency appeal to save children's lives from severe acute malnutrition in Africa

BANGKOK, 1 June 2018 - The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today appealed to the Thai public for urgent donations to help save the lives of over a million children who are at imminent risk of dying from severe acute malnutrition in Africa.

To donate: Type 100 and send SMS to 4712225 to donate 100 baht

“The lives of more than a million children in Africa are hanging in the balance,” said Thomas Davin, UNICEF Representative for Thailand. “No child should have to die like this. Severe acute malnutrition is entirely preventable. We can still save many lives, but we need to act fast. UNICEF is calling for support from people in Thailand and across the world to help us reach as many children as we can.”

As a famine crisis looms in four African countries - Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia and South Sudan - UNICEF estimates that 1.3 million children could die from severe acute malnutrition unless they receive urgent help. Drought, food insecurity and ongoing conflict also have left more than 30 million people, including 15 million children, in need of humanitarian assistance.

At healthcare centers across the four countries, UNICEF is working with partners to save children’s lives by providing therapeutic food, and other urgent treatment for severe acute malnutrition. In 2018, UNICEF aims to provide therapeutic feeding treatment to one million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. In the first three months of this year, nearly 200,000 children under five years old in the four countries have already received this life-saving treatment.

“Every second, a child in Africa is at risk of dying from severe acute malnutrition,” said Anand Panyarachun, UNICEF Thailand Goodwill Ambassador. “You don’t need super powers to save a child’s life, just the willingness to take action today.”

Mai, Davika Hoorne, a Friend of UNICEF and a major supporter of the campaign, also urged the Thai public to provide their support before it is too late.

“This is now a question of life and death for these children, and we are racing against time,” said Davika Hoorne. “The support from the Thai public is important. Only with this support can UNICEF provide the therapeutic food and other life-saving items that these children so desperately need. Please help save children’s lives before it’s too late.”

The #ThaiforChildreninAfrica Campaign aims to raise 15 million baht from in Thailand. Globally, UNICEF has appealed for nearly US$600 million to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to children and families in these four countries in 2018. Only around 37 per cent of the funds needed have been raised so far.

To help children in Africa
Donate via SMS: Type 100 and send SMS to 4712225 (100 baht per one SMS)
Donate online at https://help.unicef.org/thaiforchildreninafrica

Main video links
1-minute tv appeal: Anand Panyarachun http://bit.ly/TFAAnand60
30-second tv appeal: Mai Davika Hoorne https://youtu.be/BjZbo35NS10

Other video links

Promo clip (Mai Davika Hoorne) https://youtu.be/BjZbo35NS10
Promo clip (Nichkhun Horvejkul) Friend of UNICEF http://bit.ly/TFANK60

B-rolls

• Malnutrition crisis in Africa  http://bit.ly/TFAAfricaSit
• UNICEF’s assistance  http://bit.ly/TFAUNICEFWorks
• A child story:  http://bit.ly/TFAChildStory