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COX'S BAZAR, Sept. 14, 2017 /CNW/ - 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.
About UNICEF
UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. We work tirelessly to help children and their families, doing whatever it takes to ensure children survive. We provide children with healthcare and immunization, clean water, nutrition and food security, education, emergency relief and more in developing countries.
UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations and helps children regardless of race, religion or politics. As part of the UN, we are active in more 190 countries - more than any other organization. Our determination and our reach are unparalleled. Because nowhere is too far to go to help a child survive. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca.
SOURCE UNICEF Canada
Stefanie Carmichael, UNICEF Canada, 416-482-6552 ext. 8866, [email protected]
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...
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