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Cyclone Idai - UNICEF Canada appeals for donations to support increased humanitarian response for children caught in the disaster


TORONTO, March 21, 2019 /CNW/ - Hundreds of thousands of children urgently need humanitarian assistance after Cyclone Idai caused death and destruction in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. UNICEF Canada is calling on Canadians to make donations to support live-saving work in the three countries.

Hundreds of thousands of children urgently need humanitarian assistance after Cyclone Idai caused death and destruction in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. © UNICEF/UN0290284/de Wet AFP-Services (CNW Group/UNICEF Canada)

Canadians can donate at unicef.ca.

"This is a major crisis that threatens the lives of countless children," said David Morley, President and CEO at UNICEF Canada. "UNICEF is on the ground in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe and mobilizing rapidly to reach affected children and their families."

UNICEF had prepositioned emergency supplies in anticipation of the cyclone but the scale of the situation is demanding increased action. An additional 50 tonnes of emergency supplies are en route from UNICEF's Supply Division in Copenhagen, the world's biggest humanitarian warehouse, and will reach Mozambique this weekend.

As the sheer depth of this disaster is revealed, UNICEF Canada urges Canadians to give generously to allow us to escalate our actions in support of the children in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

UNICEF's priority is providing safe drinking water to prevent waterborne diseases and setting up networks of Child Friendly Spaces to protect children and provide psycho-social support.

UNICEF is already providing essential help, including for health and nutrition, drinking water and sanitation to meet the most urgent needs for children. UNICEF is working with local governments, UN country teams and partners to deliver life-saving emergency supplies.

About UNICEF
UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. We work tirelessly to help children and their families, doing whatever it takes to ensure children survive. We provide children with healthcare and immunization, clean water, nutrition and food security, education, emergency relief and more.

UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations and helps children regardless of race, religion or politics. As part of the UN, we are active in over 190 countries - more than any other organization. Our determination and our reach are unparalleled. Because nowhere is too far to go to help a child survive. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca.

SOURCE UNICEF Canada



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