14 April 2010

UNICEF Ambassador Robbie Williams returns from Haiti and draws attention to the ongoing needs of children.

In the week that UNICEF has highlighted the situation of children three months after the catastrophic Haitian earthquake, internationally acclaimed British singer Robbie Williams urges people across the world to do all they can to help transform the lives of the children affected by the disaster.

Williams, an Ambassador for the world's leading children’s organisation UNICEF, made the comments after returning from a visit to Haiti with UNICEF.  Speaking on his return, Williams said:

“I've just come back from Haiti as the world marks the three month anniversary of the earthquake. Like you, I'd heard about how bad this disaster was but to see the destruction, damage and horrors that it brought for children and their families myself was worse than I could have imagined.  I also saw how UNICEF and its partners are working tirelessly to deliver life saving supplies to families affected by the disaster and to help children to get back into the schools that they love to continue their education.

“But there's still a huge challenge ahead.  We have a chance now to help transform the lives of Haiti's children in the long term.  To put right what is wrong in crucial areas like health and education and start a new chapter for the children of Haiti. I urge you, wherever you are in the world right now, please remember the children in Haiti and give what you can to UNICEF to help them have a brighter future.”

Three months after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti - the poorest country in the western hemisphere - UNICEF released "Children of Haiti: Three Months After the Earthquake", a report that identifies vital progress already made for many of the 1.5 million children affected, but sets out continuing challenges that still affect children and women.

Amongst key achievements noted are that there has been no significant disease outbreak or increase in malnutrition rates, more than a million affected people are receiving clean drinking water, hundreds of thousands of women and children are benefiting from feeding programmes, mass vaccination campaigns have reached more than 100,000 children to date and schools have begun to open in temporary accommodation.

Robbie Williams saw how UNICEF is giving hope to more than a million children touched by this disaster. He saw the beginnings of the "Movement for Learning" initiative, run by the Government of Haiti, supported by UNICEF that aims to get every child of school age in Haiti into school. In Jacmel, where Williams went, nearly half the number of schools has re-opened, bringing some normality back to the lives of traumatised children.

UNICEF maintains that all of Haiti’s children have the right to an education and the children's organisation is currently procuring backpacks with essential school supplies for 720,000 students, as well as essential classroom supplies. In addition, more than 3,000 temporary schools tents have been distributed to get schools open. Teachers have received rapid orientation on a new curriculum to help children back into the learning process.

UNICEF is also calling for children to be placed at the centre of recovery and reconstruction efforts. In particular, UNICEF singles out tackling the trend of chronic malnutrition, creating a protective environment for children, and ensuring education for every child as critical priorities for the future development of the country.

It has also identified urgent provision of improved shelter for families who have lost their homes, increased provision of basic services and strengthened protection of women and children as immediate priorities, as Haiti approaches the annual rainy season.

These priorities stand out as both urgent in the short term and essential to the progressive and full realization of children's rights in Haiti.

UNICEF has appealed for  NZ$311 million (US$222 million) to finance the first 12 months of its operation. So far it has raised NZ$262 million (US$186 million).

Help UNICEF build a Haiti fit for children - make a one off donation to Haiti today!

View UNICEF's Haiti - 90 Day Situation Report