IKEA Foundation donates Euro 2 million to UNICEF to reach children and families affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan with critical supplies

GENEVA - IKEA Foundation has donated Euro 2 million to UNICEF to support relief efforts in the aftermath of the Super Typhoon Haiyan that struck the Philippines on 8 November.

Current estimates indicate that 4 million children could now be affected by the disaster.

Funds from the IKEA Foundation, UNICEF’s largest corporate partner, will help UNICEF to reach children and families as quickly as possible with critical water and sanitation supplies, to help protect their health and safety following the disaster.

Alongside other supplies, the donation from the IKEA Foundation will be used for the provision of generators and water treatment plants to ensure access to safe drinking water for children and families in affected areas and the distribution of water and hygiene kits to help avoid the risk of disease outbreak.

Children who have escaped the terrible devastation of Haiyan need urgent assistance to survive the aftermath of the storm. The impact of the typhoon on water supply and sanitation systems has raised particular concerns around the health of the affected population.

“We are extremely grateful to the IKEA Foundation for their invaluable contribution, which will be critical in helping the lives of so many children and their families in the affected areas”, said Leila Pakkala, UNICEF Director of Private Fundraising and Partnerships.

UNICEF is rushing emergency supplies to the Philippines for rapid distribution to areas ravaged by Super Typhoon Haiyan. The IKEA Foundation’s contribution will be critical to helping UNICEF scale up its emergency response in the difficult days ahead.

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About UNICEF
UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit www.unicef.org.

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About IKEA Foundation
The IKEA Foundation aims to improve opportunities for children and youth in the world’s poorest communities by funding holistic, long-term programmes that can create substantial, lasting change. The Foundation works with strong strategic partners applying innovative approaches to achieve large-scale results in four fundamental areas of a child’s life: a place to call home; a healthy start in life; a quality education; and sustainable family income. Currently-funded programmes benefit an estimated 100 million children by 2015. Learn more at www.ikeafoundation.org and www.facebook/IKEAfoundation