18561: Slavin: UNICEF SPEAKS OUT FOR CHILDREN AMIDST HAITI CRISIS (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

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