UNICEF ships emergency supplies to affected areas and starts measles vaccination 60,000 children in Vanuatu are affected by Cyclone Pam
2015-03-17
HONG KONG, 17 March 2015 – A state of emergency has been declared in Vanuatu and Tuvalu after category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam smashed into South Pacific last week, where half of the population are likely affected, there are up to 60,000 cyclone-affected children in Vanuatu alone. UNICEF needs HK$23.4 million (US $3 million) to assist the affected countries. The Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF calls for public donation to support the relief action.
 © UNICEF Pacific |
UNICEF frontline staff and volunteers worked through the night to help dispatch the supplies to Vanuatu, to fulfill the urgent needs of cyclone victims. These supplies were dispatched from Fiji including health and nutrition supplies - oral rehydration salt (ORS) sachets, vitamin A capsules, de-worming (Albendazole) tablets; education and recreation supplies - school backpacks with stationery supplies, recreation kits; WASH and sanitation supplies - collapsible water containers, purification tablets, hygiene kits and soap for handwashing. |
UNICEF has set up two tents for patient assessments and clinical services, while medical surge staff has begun to treat patients and provide vaccination. With the coordination of UNICEF, six medical teams are deployed throughout the reachable parts of Port Vila, capital of Vanuatu, and start vaccination for children today to protect them from measles and other diseases, and to prevent further spreading of the disease - given a recent measles outeak in early March.
| 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 provided school-in-a-box kits and recreation kits, to set up child friendly spaces in evacuation centres. This will be able to provide education and psycho-social support to over 6,200 children. |  © UNICEF Pacific |
“Sanitation, nutrition and health, and protection for affected children are at high priority. Six additional teams are expected to be deployed to the field by end of this week to support the measles vaccination campaign. UNICEF needs HK$23.4 million (US $3 million) for the relief action. We hope Hong Kong people can support UNICEF by making donation, to help children in the midst of devastation.” said Judy Chen, Chairman, the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF.
Hong Kong public can make 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.)
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For more information please contact:
Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF