UNICEF supplies arrive near Tunisian-Libyan border

RAS JEDIR, Tunisia, – Some 47 tons of UNICEF supplies have arrived in the town of Ben Guerdane near the Tunisian-Libyan border, to cover needs in the areas of health, child protection, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene.

“As more families are crossing the border to flee the violence, UNICEF and partners are stepping up their response to meet their humanitarian needs,” said Maria-Luisa Fornara, UNICEF representative in Tunisia.

UNICEF is also gearing up for an immediate response inside Libya, as soon as access is allowed and the security situation permits.

The supplies currently available near the border include:

* Some 300 squatting plates for latrines, which are currently being installed and which will significantly improve the sanitation conditions at the camp
* A total of 10,000 blankets
* About 5,000 hygiene kits
* Nearly 100 early childhood development kits, which include educational toys and drawing sets.

Additional supplies include vaccines, first aid kits, water containers, and recreational items.

The Choucha camp on the Tunisian-Libyan border is currently home to an estimated 300 families and 120 children, most of them under the age of two. To avoid any possible outbreak of disease, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF and other partners on the ground, launched a campaign today to vaccinate children against common childhood diseases.

While the number of families fleeing Libya is relatively small, UNICEF remains concerned about the situation across the border and the impact of the violence on the well-being of women and children. UNICEF echoes the United Nations’ Secretary-General’s call for to the violence to stop and for humanitarian access to Libya to be allowed.

Reports that children and adolescents are taking part in the hostilities are particularly alarming. UNICEF urges all parties to ensure that children’s rights are protected at all times.

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About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 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