UNICEF welcomes decision to allow international aid workers

Senior UNICEF official views hard hit areas

YANGON, May 2008 – UNICEF hails the government’s decision to grant full access to international aid workers to every part of cyclone-battered Myanmar. UNICEF plans to rapidly move forward with mapping and serving the children and women in the severely affected areas, said Ms. Anupama Rao Singh, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and Pacific.

Rao Singh is in Myanmar from 23 to 27 May on a fact-finding mission focused on cyclone Nargis and to participate in an ASEAN-UN conference held Sunday in Yangon. She traveled to the Irrawaddy division, one of the areas badly hit by the cyclone which lashed some parts of Myanmar on over three weeks ago.

Around 2.4 million people have been severely affected by the cyclone, and 40 per cent of them are children. Many are now homeless, have lost their personal possessions, and are exposed to many risks. Access to clean drinking water, sanitation, proper nutrition and shelter are immediate priorities for children.

Another top priority is getting children back to school – an essential step in helping children recover from distress and improve their quality of life. Myanmar aims to reopen schools in some of the affected areas by 2 June 2008.

Rao Singh said, “The sooner we can get education facilities or child-friendly spaces going, the better it would be for children.”

Commenting on the ASEAN-UN conference which she attended on Sunday, Rao Singh said that with the assurances put forth by both ASEAN and the UN Secretary General, the children’s agency hopes to access affected areas comprehensively and thoroughly assess the situation of women and children.

“I am very excited that our international staff have started their visits to the affected areas. Based on the meetings that I have been having with senior government officials here, I get the impression that they are committed to do the best that they can to address the consequences of the disaster. I really hope that we will be able to do much more than what we have been able to do so far.”

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, UNICEF has been providing tonnes of supplies for various health, education, water and sanitation difficulties as well as giving technical assistance to its local counterparts.

Rao Singh also met with three ministers to express UNICEF’s support for the people of Myanmar and explore how to scale up relief efforts. The Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement supports UNICEF and its partners’ efforts to trace and reunite children with their families. UNICEF is also encouraged to continue its measles immunization activities as expressed by the Minister of Health. Later today Rao Singh will meet with the Minister of National Planning and Economic Development.

Staffed by 130 people, UNICEF has been present in Myanmar since 1950, working in the fields of basic education, child protection, health and nutrition, as well as water and sanitation.

Attention broadcasters: Interviews with Ms. Rao Singh and more VNS on Myanmar is available at: thenewsmarket.com/unicef