Cyclone Idai:
UNICEF Canada appeals for donations
Cyclone Idai – UNICEF Canada appeals for donations to support increased humanitarian response for children caught in the disaster
Publication Date: 2019/03/21
Toronto, 21 March 2019 – Hundreds of thousands of children urgently need humanitarian assistance after Cyclone Idai caused death and destruction in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. UNICEF Canada is calling on Canadians to make donations to support live-saving work in the three countries.
Canadians can donate at unicef.ca.
“This is a major crisis that threatens the lives of countless children,” said David Morley, President and CEO at UNICEF Canada. “UNICEF is on the ground in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe and mobilizing rapidly to reach affected children and their families.”
UNICEF had prepositioned emergency supplies in anticipation of the cyclone but the scale of the situation is demanding increased action. An additional 50 tonnes of emergency supplies are en route from UNICEF’s Supply Division in Copenhagen, the world’s biggest humanitarian warehouse, and will reach Mozambique this weekend.
As the sheer depth of this disaster is revealed, UNICEF Canada urges Canadians to give generously to allow us to escalate our actions in support of the children in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe
UNICEF’s priority is providing safe drinking water to prevent waterborne diseases and setting up networks of Child Friendly Spaces to protect children and provide psycho-social support.
UNICEF is already providing essential help, including for health and nutrition, drinking water and sanitation to meet the most urgent needs for children. UNICEF is working with local governments, UN country teams and partners to deliver life-saving emergency supplies.
About UNICEF
UNICEF is the world’s leading humanitarian organization focused on children. We work in the most challenging areas to provide protection, healthcare and immunizations, education, safe water and sanitation and nutrition. As part of the United Nations, our unrivaled reach spans more than 190 countries and territories, ensuring we are on the ground to help the most disadvantaged children. While part of the UN system, UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary donations to finance our life-saving work. Please visit unicef.ca and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.