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18561: Slavin: UNICEF SPEAKS OUT FOR CHILDREN AMIDST HAITI CRISIS (fwd)
From: PSlavin@unicefusa.org
UNICEF SPEAKS OUT FOR CHILDREN AMIDST HAITI CRISIS
Geneva/Port-au-Prince, 12 February 2004 -- "The intensification of the
political crisis in Haiti is taking a heavy toll on families and
communities; children are increasingly affected by the violence and must be
protected," said Françoise Gruloos-Ackermans, UNICEF Representative in
Haiti.
UNICEF appeals to all parties to protect and respect the lives, rights and
well-being of children, in particular in areas where civil unrest and
violent clashes are taking place. UNICEF also calls upon all parties in
the conflict to take appropriate measures to protect children and young
people from being armed, trained or involved in the conflict, in conformity
with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Haiti in 1994.
The UN inter-agency emergency mission that traveled to Haiti this week to
assess the looming humanitarian crisis reported that children are facing
serious risks to their health, physical well-being and psychosocial
welfare. The UNICEF component of the mission led by regional experts
assessed the effect of the crisis on children and women and the
organization is gearing up for a full-fledged emergency response.
In addition to its ongoing program of support, UNICEF will provide
emergency relief assistance for children in affected areas, including basic
health and education kits. UNICEF is working with humanitarian partners
and non-governmental organizations to intensify information and advocacy
for child rights to ensure observance of international humanitarian law
provisions on the rights of civilian populations in conflict.
UNICEF is particularly alarmed about the fate of some 1.2 million children
already identified as being especially vulnerable. As the violence in
Haiti increases, it is becoming more difficult for children to attend
school, receive medical attention, find food and shelter. Children,
especially girls, living or working in the streets of urban centers are
especially at risk. School attendance has dropped dramatically in most
areas due to unsafe roads, lack of security in schools and disruption of
public transportation
-------------
For more information, contact:
UNICEF Haiti, Sylvana Nzirorera, snzirorera@unicef.org, tlf. (509) 245 35
25
Unicef GENEVA, Damien Personnaz, dpersonnaz@unicef.org, Tel: (41) 022 909
5716