60,000 children in Vanuatu are affected by category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam UNICEF calls for public donation to fulfill the increasing funding requirements | Latest News | News | Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF

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60,000 children in Vanuatu are affected by category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam UNICEF calls for public donation to fulfill the increasing funding requirements

2015-03-16

HONG KONG, 16 March 2015 – The number of affected children in Vanuatu has increased to 60,000 after category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam smashed into South Pacific last week. They are in urgent need for humanitarian action. UNICEF announces that the donation requirement has been increased by 50 per cent to HK$23.4 million (US $3 million). The Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF HK) appeals for public donation to support affected children.

Cyclone Pam hit late on Friday night and continued into the early hours of Saturday morning, leaving children in the South Pacific, including Vanuatu, Tuvalu, and Solomon islands, at particular risk. The number of affected children has been increased to 60,000 in Vanuatu alone. Early childhood centres as well as primary and secondary schools have been damaged or are being used as evacuation centres. At least 70,000 school-aged children are missing out on education as a result. UNICEF has been conducting damage assessment on infrastructure and key services caused by the cyclone. More than 80 per cent of power lines in Vanuatu are damaged and the drinking water supply is affected.

On Sunday 15 March 2015, a family carries their belongings on the outskirts of Port Vila, capital of Vanuatu. Tens of thousands of children are in urgent need of assistance in Vanuatu after tropical Cyclone Pam ripped through the island. The category 5 storm hit late on Friday night, 13 March, and continued into the early hours of Saturday morning, leaving children at particular risk. It is estimated that at least half the population of Vanuatu has been affected by cyclone Pam. Of these, at least 54,000 are children. Many homes in Vanuatu have likely been destroyed as they are built with natural and local materials such as thatched and corrugated roofs that are vulnerable to strong winds and floods. Health centres have likely sustained severe damage and will need rebuilding and restocking with medical and nutrition supplies. Many of these buildings are likely to have suffered structural damage. Lifeline facilities like hospitals, electrical utilities, water supply and telephone systems are most likely severely damaged. Power and water supply has been affected across Vanuatu, including in the capital city Port Vila. Schools are being used as evacuation centres, and UNICEF will be supporting children's education, including providing school in a box kits. Child friendly spaces will be set up in evacuation centres to provide children with psychosocial assistance. Churches and community halls are being used as emergency shelters. Other Pacific Island countries have been severely impact as well, including the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Kiribati. UNICEF is on the ground in the affected countries, providing immediate assistance. Most urgent needs include the provision of water containers, purification tablets, soap and temporary sanitation facilities. UNICEF's immediate needs to assist the affected countries is at least US $2 million, initially covering support to water, sanitation, hygiene, health, education, nutrition and protection services, and including support fo

UNICEF is working with the Government and partners to provide water containers, purification tablets, soap, and temporary sanitation facilities. UNICEF will also support children's education and counselling services, including providing school-in-a-box kits, and setting up child friendly spaces in evacuation centres. UNICEF is also coordinating a measles vaccination campaign with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to prevent further spreading of the disease - given a recent measles outeak in early March.

“Though the damage by Cyclone Pam has ceased gradually, the number of people at risk is increasing. As the power line and infrastructure are damaged, relief work has been more challenging. Some reports state that Cyclone Pam is more severe than Haiyan.” UNICEF HK Chairman, Judy Chen, said, “After assessment, UNICEF has raised the donation needs by 50 per cent to HK$23.4 million (US $3 million) in one day. UNICEF relief teams have now headed to the remote island communities and work day and night to help those in the greatest need. We hope Hong Kong people will also support UNICEF by making donation to give hope to the victims in the midst of devastation.”

Hong Kong public can help by making online donation at unicef.org.hk/donate to support UNICEF's action on maternal and child health, education, nutrition, water, sanitation and protection.

Donation for Cyclone in the South Pacific

Online donation:	/donate
Direct Bank-in:	HSBC: 567-354014-004
	Bank of China: 012-875-1-0810855
	Wing Lung Bank: 020-601-003-76352
	Bank of East Asia: 015-260-81-012100
Hotline:	2833 6139

(In the unusual event that donations for Super Cyclone Pam exceed the needs, we will direct your gift to disaster or emergency relief actions elsewhere.)

Please donate now to help the children affected by Cyclone Pam

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For more information please contact:

Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF

Jamie Wong, Communication Specialist	Tel / Mobile: 2836 2967 / 6149 3378	Email: [email protected]