NEW YORK, May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The situation for children
continues to worsen in Myanmar as thousands of children have been separated
from their families, many more are living in desperate conditions in relief
camps, and some are drinking water from ponds covered with dead bodies, a
UNICEF report stated today.
The information is contained in a new situation report received from
UNICEF's 10 offices in Myanmar. It details the most urgent needs of women
and children and clearly shows the magnitude of devastation in the delta
region.
In Bogalay Township, ponds are covered with dead bodies of humans and
animals. Currently, people are trying to pump water from the pond, which
can be bleached, but it can only serve the nearby communities.
Also in this township, hospitals are overcrowded with up to 6,000
patients every day. The very grave threat of water-borne diseases is
apparent with more people visiting hospitals suffering from deadly diarrhea
and dehydration. About 20,000 people from this township are displaced and
living in 50 camps.
In Mawlamyinegyun Township, UNICEF reports that 50 percent of villages
were damaged out of 757 villages, and 20,000 people are currently staying
in 20 camps. UNICEF is sending additional emergency supplies, expected to
reach the area today.
The situation is also desperate in Pyapon Township where 16,000 people
have been displaced, now living in 35 camps. Conditions in these camps are
appalling: in one camp there are only five latrines for 3,500 people.
People in this area are suffering a severe shortage of food, insufficient
shelters and they are drinking water from contaminated ponds.
A priority concern for UNICEF is the identification of unaccompanied
and separated children, as well as family tracing and unification. In all
regions, the number of children who have been orphaned by the disaster or
separated from their families is rapidly increasing. So far, UNICEF has
identified at least 2,000 of these children from the Laputta Township, and
it is expected that number of children will continue to rise. UNICEF is
working to ensure these children have safe shelter and that their basic
needs are met. UNICEF staff have already begun the process of trying to
trace the families of these children to reunite them.
UNICEF RESPONSE
The risk of life-threatening diarrhea and infectious diseases increases
dramatically with every day. Children are highly susceptible to these
problems and their impact is graver when the sufferers are under-nourished.
"If there was ever a clearer sign that every second counts for children
in Myanmar this is it," said Caryl M. Stern, President, U.S. Fund for
UNICEF. "This is a critical time for the children and families affected by
the cyclone. The UNICEF team on the ground in Myanmar will continue to work
around the clock to ensure children are provided for."
At present, UNICEF's priority is to provide life saving essentials to
children and their mothers:
* On Saturday, UNICEF's Supply Division in Copenhagen packed 30 emergency
health kits that will provide drugs, medical supplies, and basic medical
equipment for 300,000 persons for 3 months. Other medical supplies,
including intravenous glucose, thermometers, masks and gloves are also
on the flight, which is a commercial plane to fly from Amsterdam
Sunday, 11 May 23:30, expected to Bangkok Mon 19:50. Will be transferred
to Yangon ASAP.
* Another shipment of nutrition supplies will be flown from Paris, via KLM
on Sunday, 11 May, including fortified therapeutic milk. On Monday
UNICEF will share a charter with UNHCR from Dubai into Yangon with 540
family water kits. Another flight arriving Monday will be carrying 32
tons of provisions including 20 large tents, essential drugs, and oral
rehydration therapy.
* A UNICEF flight containing three million water purification tablets,
good to purify five million liters of contaminated water, enough for the
needs of 200,000 people for one week, landed on Friday and will be
distributed following a customs check.
* UNICEF is constructing latrines and digging wells in the hardest hit
areas.
* UNICEF is providing water purification tablets, oral rehydration
therapies, essential drugs for infectious diseases and mosquito nets,
but the quantities currently available are not sufficient to meet needs.
UNICEF staff in Myanmar have been able to distribute emergency supplies
in the most affected regions using pre-positioned stock in the country
prior to the cyclone, as well as with supplies purchased in Myanmar.
However, given the scope of the disaster, "We need the supply pipeline to
increase exponentially," said Stern.
UNICEF is one of the few international organizations that has a
well-established, on-the-ground presence in Myanmar. UNICEF has worked in
the country since 1950 and has 130 staff on the ground spread across nine
zonal offices with a head office in Yangon.
To donate to the Cyclone Nargis disaster, please go to:
http://www.unicefusa.org/myanmar or call 1-800 4UNICEF.
About UNICEF
For more than 60 years, UNICEF has been the world's leading
international children's organization, working in over 150 countries to
address the ongoing issues that affect why kids are dying. UNICEF provides
lifesaving nutrition, clean water, education, protection and emergency
response saving more young lives than any other humanitarian organization
in the world. While millions of children die every year of preventable
causes like dehydration, upper respiratory infections and measles, UNICEF,
with the support of partnering organizations and donors alike, has the
global experience, resources and reach to give children the best hope of
survival. For more information about UNICEF, please visit
http://www.unicefusa.org.
SOURCE UNICEF
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Related links:
http://www.unicefusa.org
http://www.unicefusa.org/myanmar
CONTACT:
Michael Bociurkiw, +1-212-880-9131 or
+1-646-421-0400, mbociurkiw@unicefusa.org, or Marissa Buckanoff,
+1-212-922-2485, mbuckanoff@unicefusa.org, or Lisa Szarkowski,
+1-212-922-2643, lszarkowski@unicefusa.org, all of the U.S. Fund
for UNICEF
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