As you know, UNICEF began responding within a day of the disaster, drawing on pre-positioned emergency medical supplies. Here's a quick recap of what's been delivered to date:
- 6,000 ORS, 1,500 water guards, 10 essential drug kits (to cover 5,000 people per kit), 20 first aid kits, 270 tarpaulins, 1 bleaching drum and 300 family kits to Laputta, Irrawady division.
- 5,000 ORS, 5,000 water guards, 10 drug kits, 20 first aid kits, 100 tarpaulins and 1 bleaching drum to Mawlemyine Kyun, Irrawaddy division.
- 3,000 water guards, 3,000 ORS, 6 drug kits, 20 first aid kits, 1,000 tarpaulins and 2 bleaching drums to Hlaing Thar Yar and Kyauk Tan townships, Yangon.
- 1,000 water guards, 1,000 ORS, 5 drug kits, 10 first aid kits to Kun Gyan Gon township in Yangon.
- 1,000 water guards and 1,000 ORS for 1,280 children, including 120 HIV/AIDS affected girls and women, residing in Department of Social Welfare training schools in Yangon.
UNICEF is also the lead agency on the ground for water, sanitation and hygiene; education; and child protection. Here's an overview of what's going on in these areas.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Because of the lack of safe drinking water and poor sanitary conditions, diarrheal diseases could occur and increase the mortality of children. Floods could be a source of mosquito breeding and lead to malaria and dengue fever outbreaks.
UNICEF is providing oral rehydration solutions, essential drugs for infectious diseases and mosquito nets but the quantities in hand are far short of the needs. Donations will be used for the procurement of additional supplies.
Water quality and availability are also an issue because of electricity breakdown and destroyed sanitation systems. So there's a high risk of infections and water-borne diseases like cholera and dysentery. UNICEF interventions will focus on ensuring safe water supply and building latrines for the affected population.
Latrines for displaced persons in camps, basic water family kits, water purification tablets, water guard solution (sodium hypochloride) and bleaching powder are among the top priorities.
Education
Many schools have been damaged and destroyed. UNICEF is focusing on returning children to schools by the 1st of June in an effort to bring a sense of normalcy to their lives and protect them from potential abuse and threats to their well-being as a result of displacement. UNICEF urgently needs funds for school repair/construction, temporary learning spaces and support to preschools. UNICEF will be supporting 2,000 schools benefiting approximately 300,000 children.
Child Protection
Unaccompanied, separated and traumatized children are among UNICEF’s chief concerns. UNICEF plans to support the identification, of separated children, family tracing, verification and reunification of children with families, establishment of safe environments for children and women, including child-friendly spaces, sensitization of communities on risks of exploitation and abuse as well as integrate psychosocial support in protection responses.
More to follow...
Comments (4)
Dear Sir ,
I would like to asist people from Birmanie by working as a volunteer if it is possible to UNICEF
Thank you
Posted by Mawazo kitenge | May 7, 2008 8:13 PM
Posted on May 7, 2008 20:13
I am a young man fron Africa in RDC kinsahasa and would like to work in Myanmar as a volunteer to the UNICEF to help those people who are suffring.
Yours Mr. Mawazo
Posted by Mawazo kitenge | May 8, 2008 8:20 AM
Posted on May 8, 2008 08:20
Hello,
We are a group of Burmese people (all US citizens) ready to go to Burma for disaster relief works as liaison or interpreters or doctors, engineers, etc. Local authorities and people at disaster stricken regions neither understand English or French (or Chinese). UNICEF workers there need our help.
We need your help how we could involve in this disaster relief effort work. We will be ready within a week to leave this country.
Sincerely,
Dr. Padetha Tin
NASA Glenn Research Center
Posted by Win Win Than | May 8, 2008 9:29 AM
Posted on May 8, 2008 09:29
I am a young ladies from singapore and would like to work in Myanmar as a volunteer to the UNICEF to help those people who are suffering ..Please feel free to contact me if u needed a helping hand..
rgds,
susan
Posted by Susan | May 13, 2008 12:13 AM
Posted on May 13, 2008 00:13