UNICEF appeals for $5.7 million for two months

The UN children's agency, UNICEF, has appealed for US $5.7 million for emergency health, nutrition and education to cover over the next two months needs of more than one million people displaced by conflict in Cote d'Ivoire, over the next two months. At least 150,000 of the displaced had crossed into neighboring countries, straining already weak social service systems. "Four months after the attempted coup in Côte d'Ivoire, the country is teetering on the brink of a catastrophe that threatens to trigger massive population upheaval if fighting between rebels and government forces continues," UNICEF said. "The political turmoil has unleashed an anti-immigrant sentiment affecting millions of foreigners in Côte d'Ivoire that likely will linger even if a solution to the current military standoff can be found. Vigilante groups, often acting with total impunity, continue to target immigrants from the sub-region." According to UNICEF, another 500,000 people, 80 percent of whom would be women and children could be forced to leave Côte d'Ivoire over the next 12 months, severely taxing the absorption capacities of the communities that will host them in neighboring countries. "UNICEF will require additional resources to ensure these populations receive essential health care, access to clean water and other basic services, protection from exploitation and violence as well as educational opportunities... With most of the countries concerned falling into the last quarter of the Human Development Index, the implications of the crisis in the health, water and sanitation, education and other humanitarian sectors in countries in the sub-region are devastating," the agency said. UNICEF response so far UNICEF, together with partner agencies in Côte d'Ivoire, had so far supported mobile teams to provide medical and psycho-social support to children in Abidjan, Bouake, and Korhogo and delivered emergency health, education, mosquito nets, non-food items and water and sanitation supplies to both rebel and government-held areas, the agency reported. In Burkina Faso, UNICEF had constructed sanitation facilities at nine reception sites and vaccinated arrivals against measles, yellow fever, meningitis and tetanus; and in Liberia, it had provided high-energy biscuits and tents to be used as transit shelters at border crossings. In Mali, it had provided shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene equipments and recreation kits to 1,500 refugees and asylum seekers in Zegoua and Loulouni camps. In Guinea, the agency had also constructed shelters, shower units and latrines for transit centres in Lola, conducted a measles vaccination campaign and provided high energy biscuits, medical and educational supplies, blankets, jerry cans and soap to returnees. In Ghana, UNICEF had pre-positioned health, education, water and sanitation and emergency non-food items, and is providing psycho-social support for transit populations. Priority needs over the next two months Priority needs for the next two months include $3.5 million for yellow fever and measles vaccination campaigns and Vitamin A distribution in urban areas of Côte d'Ivoire; $1 million to respond to outbreaks of endemic diseases and conduct nutritional and epidemiological surveillance and $1.2 million for emergency education supplies for 340,000 affected students in Côte d'Ivoire and neighboring countries. "While an inter-agency consolidated appeal is being prepared, UNICEF has re-programmed $2.6 million of current resources to respond to additional emergency needs, such as impregnated bed nets and chloroquine for malaria prevention and treatment, procurement of essential drugs and provision of sanitation facilities and potable water," the agency said. Planned emergency activities for Cote d'Ivoire were in the areas of education, health, HIV/AIDS, immunization, nutrition and water and Sanitation, UNICEF said. In the most affected countries, namely Ghana, Guinea, Liberia and Mali, UNICEF had so far identified and established transit centers, initiated emergency response activities, drafted contingency plans and strengthened humanitarian response coordination mechanisms with UN, NGO and governmental partners. The appeal is intended to cover more planned activities in education, health, HIV/AIDS, immunization, protection, and water and Sanitation. US $18.8 million needed up to December "In response to the humanitarian crisis in Côte d'Ivoire and neighboring countries, UNICEF is requesting $18.8 million to provide humanitarian assistance to the targeted children and women in the six affected countries. The $5.7 million are required to meet urgent humanitarian needs for the next two months in immunization, health and nutrition," UNICEF said. For further details go to: http://www.unicef.org/