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UNICEF emergency supplies for Rohingya children en route to Cox’s Bazar
Publication Date: 2017/09/14
VIDEO LINK FOR MEDIA WITH B-ROLL: https://vimeo.com/233764188
COX’S BAZAR, 14 September 2017 - UNICEF trucks filled with emergency water, sanitation and hygiene supplies for thousands of Rohingya children are headed to Cox’s Bazar, with a steady stream of supplies in the pipeline for the coming days and weeks.
Up to 400,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh since August 25, with thousands more arriving every day. Around 60 per cent are children, according to preliminary estimates. The sheer number of refugees has overwhelmed pre-existing refugee camps, with new arrivals seeking shelter anywhere they can find space.
“There are acute shortages of everything, most critically shelter, food and clean water,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF’s Representative in Bangladesh. “Conditions on the ground place children at high risk of water-borne disease. We have a monumental task ahead of us to protect these extremely vulnerable children.”
Supplies include detergent powder, soap, as well as pitchers and jugs for containing water, along with nappies, sanitary napkins, towels and sandals. UNICEF is also supporting the Department of Public Health Engineering with water treatment plants and carriers, and is working with partners on the ground to install and rehabilitate tube wells.
“These items are part of a first wave of supplies that will massively scale-up UNICEF’s emergency response to the growing number of Rohingya children in Bangladesh,” Beigbeder said.
UNICEF has appealed for US$ 7.3 million to provide emergency support to Rohingya children over the next four months.
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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.