Life-Saving Emergency Supplies and Experts Arrive in Port-au-Prince

News provided by

Jan 16, 2010, 07:48 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A plane loaded with UNICEF emergency relief supplies arrived in Port-au-Prince this morning. This is the second plane load of UNICEF water and sanitation supplies to arrive in Haiti in the past 24 hours. The shipment contained oral rehydration salts, water purification tablets and jerry cans. Additionally, two UNICEF water and sanitation experts arrived in Haiti today.

UNICEF efforts to assist with life-saving and recovery operations in Haiti will focus on providing clean water and sanitation, therapeutic food for infants and small children, medical supplies and temporary shelter and protection.

UNICEF is committed to providing safe water and sanitation to the millions of affected children and their families. Providing access to clean water and sanitation is essential in the immediate aftermath of disasters, to avoid a second wave of deaths caused by diarrheal diseases such as cholera and dysentery.

Two more UNICEF planes loaded with 70 metric tons of tents, tarpaulin, and medicines, are currently awaiting clearance to fly to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for distribution in Haiti.

To donate to the ongoing emergency relief efforts in Haiti, please visit: www.unicefusa.org/haitiquake or call 1-800-4UNICEF.

About UNICEF

UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. Working in over 150 countries, UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States.

UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality worldwide. There has been substantial progress—the annual number of under-five deaths dropped from 13 million in 1990 to 8.8 million in 2008. But still, 24,000 children die each day from preventable causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

SOURCE U.S. Fund for UNICEF