UNICEF Rushing Emergency Relief to Children in Sichuan

Sichuan Childrens

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is rushing to pack up and ship emergency relief supplies to children affected by the May 12 earthquake which devastated several counties in central Sichuan province measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. First hand accounts indicate that large numbers of children are sleeping in a stadium with 1000 tents, and the Ministry of Commerce of the Government of China today officially opened the "UNICEF Regional Logistics Centre - Shanghai." The new logistics centre will support the provision of supplies for UNICEF development and humanitarian efforts all over the world. This facility is the third regional supply hub outside of the UNICEF Supply Division Headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. The other two hubs are in Panama and the United Arab Emirates.

The first major shipment of supplies to be processed by the new Centre consists of forty-seven containers of "school kits" for the Democratic Republic of Congo. The UNICEF Congo office is gearing up a major effort to help children in underserved areas to go back to school. Approximately 5 million children will benefit from the project. The "school-in-a-box" kits have become part of the UNICEF standard response in emergencies, used in many back-to-school operations around the world.

"In 2006 UNICEF procured over US$1.2 billion in supplies for children and their families around the world. By setting up a regional logistics centre in Shanghai, UNICEF will be able to move more quickly to respond to the needs of children, especially in emergencies." said Ms. Anupama Rao Singh, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific. "We are grateful to the Government of China for providing us the warehouse facility."

The Centre will start out handling a large share of UNICEF's supply operations for educational materials, and will soon take on projects in the other areas of UNICEF's work. The Ministry of Commerce has worked together with UNICEF Supply Division staff from Copenhagen, and China country office supply specialists to identify the new facility.

"The successful opening of the UNICEF Regional Logistics Centre is attributable to the joint efforts made by the Government of China, UNICEF and other concerned parties," said Mr. Zhang Shaogang, Deputy Director-General of Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs of Ministry of Commerce. "As the largest developing country, China is prepared to strengthen its cooperation with the United Nations in international humanitarian affairs to provide timely assistance people in need, especially children."

From a total of US$5 million dollars in 2001, UNICEF's procurement of supplies in China had grown to more than US$40 million, as of 2006. The new facility consists of an 8000 sqm warehouse, set packing equipment, storage units, fork-lifts, computers and packing/labeling facilities.

UNICEF first assisted China between 1947 and 1951, providing emergency services, food and nutrition, health and hygiene training during and after the Revolutionary War. In 1979 UNICEF officially commenced its cooperation with the Government of China to support 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 on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.

Source: UNICEF