Unicef flies in supplies from the Philippines

Relief supplies containing tents, tarpaulins, water purification tablets, hygiene kits, blankets and learning kits worth about K283,000 arrived yesterday from Philippines, thanks to the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).
Unicef representative Dr Karen Allen said the supplies would be transported to the affected areas today to help children and families.
Among the supplies, Allen said, were 19 large tents to be set up in affected areas to care for children.
“The idea is children can play in the space, be safe and being counselled by counsellors to help them overcome traumas, also teaching them health and hygiene,” she said.
“The main idea is to do a daycare for children, teaching them while helping them recover so that their parents can rebuild themselves. It will reduce load on parents while they go rebuild themselves. It’s really difficult to rebuild their lives while having children to look
after.”
Allen said they had hygiene and nourishment supplies two weeks ago, delivering 12,000 packets of therapeutic food and vaccines to protect 31,700 children against the increasing risk of disease outbreak and malnutrition.
UN resident coordinator in PNG Gianluca Rampolla said the relief supplies delivered were part of the overall support by the Government of PNG, the UN system, the government of Australia and New Zealand, other humanitarian partners and private sectors.
“We have been working together since the onset of the disaster to help those in most need.”