Published:
UNICEF Rushing Emergency Relief to Children in Sichuan
UNICEF Rushing Emergency Relief to Children in Sichuan
BEIJING, May 17 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF) is rushing to pack up and ship emergency relief supplies to children
affected by the May 12 earthquake which devastated several counties in central
Sichuan province measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. First hand accounts
indicate that large numbers of children are sleeping in a stadium with 1000
tents, and the Ministry of Commerce of the Government ofChina today
officially opened the "UNICEF Regional Logistics Centre -Shanghai." The new
logistics centre will support the provision of supplies for UNICEF development
and humanitarian efforts all over the world. This facility is the third
regional supply hub outside of the UNICEF Supply Division Headquarters in
Copenhagen, Denmark. The other two hubs are inPanama and theUnited Arab
Emirates.
The first major shipment of supplies to be processed by the new Centre
consists of forty-seven containers of "school kits" for theDemocratic
Republic of Congo. The UNICEF Congo office is gearing up a major effort to
help children in underserved areas to go back to school. Approximately 5
million children will benefit from the project. The "school-in-a-box" kits
have become part of the UNICEF standard response in emergencies, used in many
back-to-school operations around the world.
"In 2006 UNICEF procured over US$1.2 billion in supplies for children and
their families around the world. By setting up a regional logistics centre in
Shanghai, UNICEF will be able to move more quickly to respond to the needs of
children, especially in emergencies." said Ms. Anupama Rao Singh, UNICEF
Regional Director forEast Asia and the Pacific. "We are grateful to the
Government ofChina for providing us the warehouse facility."
The Centre will start out handling a large share of UNICEF's supply
operations for educational materials, and will soon take on projects in the
other areas of UNICEF's work. The Ministry of Commerce has worked together
with UNICEF Supply Division staff fromCopenhagen, andChina country office
supply specialists to identify the new facility.
"The successful opening of the UNICEF Regional Logistics Centre is
attributable to the joint efforts made by the Government ofChina, UNICEF and
other concerned parties," said Mr. Zhang Shaogang, Deputy Director-General of
Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs of Ministry of Commerce.
"As the largest developing country,China is prepared to strengthen its
cooperation with the United Nations in international humanitarian affairs to
provide timely assistance people in need, especially children."
From a total of US$5 million dollars in 2001, UNICEF's procurement of
supplies inChina had grown to more than US$40 million, as of 2006. The new
facility consists of an 8000 sqm warehouse, set packing equipment, storage
units, fork-lifts, computers and packing/labeling facilities.
About UNICEF inChina
UNICEF first assistedChina between 1947 and 1951, providing emergency
services, food and nutrition, health and hygiene training during and after the
Revolutionary War. In 1979 UNICEF officially commenced its cooperation with
the Government ofChina to support child health and nutrition, good water and
sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection
of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is on the ground in
over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from
early childhood through adolescence.
For further information, please contact:
Dale Rutstein, UNICEF China, +86 13910973801, drutstein@unicef.org
Liu Li, UNICEF China, +86 13701066671, liliu@unicef.org
SOURCE UNICEF China
Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze,
Daily NewsTags: Environment, Healthcare, National,
_ _Is your favorite bookmark site missing?
Ask for it.
Search News
Daily News
