UNICEF Shipment to Meet Basic Needs of 50,000 Children Arriving in Haiti

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Feb 03, 2010, 05:48 ET

Leading companies join together to provide supplies and mobilize staff, shipping and freight services

NEW YORK, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Fund for UNICEF announced today the arrival of care packages for 50,000 children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. UNICEF is the leader when it comes to disaster relief for children, providing both immediate and long–term necessities — food, water, shelter, protection and physical as well as mental health care. This shipment of supplies from the U.S. is occurring under unprecedented circumstances; the need for basic necessities in Haiti is so great and so urgent that UNICEF is also expediting toiletries, clothing, footwear, blankets and mats to the affected areas.

The packages will be used by unaccompanied children who are awaiting reunification with surviving parents or other relatives. By acquiring these supplies from the U.S., UNICEF is meeting the needs of children and families as quickly and efficiently as possible

"We are doing whatever it takes to provide children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood," said Caryl Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "UNICEF immediately reached out to a team of corporations which supplied large quantities of urgently needed items and mobilized their teams to ensure these life-saving supplies get to Haiti as quickly and efficiently as possible. We are extremely grateful for the generous response of these companies, as well as to the 100+ volunteers who worked so hard to get everything packed, making this shipment of important supplies possible."

UPS, Colgate-Palmolive Company and Henkel Consumer Goods Inc. responded instantly to UNICEF's request for supplies and services to support children who urgently need care and protection. UPS brought together its team of employee volunteers and logistics experts, and mobilized the company's global network of staff, warehouses, and shipping and freight services to ensure these life-saving supplies were able to get to Haiti. Colgate donated thousands of toothbrushes, tubes of toothpaste, and bars of soap, Henkel responded with a shipment of thousands of bars of Dial soap, and both companies expedited shipping to enable products to be delivered within 48 hours of UNICEF's request.

Other companies including C&A Sportswear, Gina Group, D&H Apparel, and Peerless Plastics provided discounted rates on products.

Additional protection supplies, like cameras and ID bracelets – which will help UNICEF staff and partners identify and register unaccompanied children – have also been shipped. UNICEF has begun the work of tracing unaccompanied children and reunifying them with family. UNICEF has also set up three temporary shelters for separated or unaccompanied children, with room for 900 in each. Safe spaces for recreation and ultimately education have been established.

Operating in Haiti since 1949, UNICEF is committed to serving the immediate needs of children. UNICEF has deployed critical supplies to Port-au-Prince and the surrounding areas and will continue to assist with recovery efforts, including clean water and sanitation, therapeutic foods, medical supplies and temporary shelter.

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