Dépêches

UNICEF Supplies Leave for Haiti on Thomas Cook Passenger Flight From Gatwick

Dépèche transmise le 20 janvier 2010 par PRNewswire

LONDON, January 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Passengers on board a Thomas Cook aircraft from Gatwick to the sunny Caribbean country of the Dominican Republic today are part of a special flight carrying UNICEF humanitarian supplies for Haiti in the cargo hold.

The flight took 5.5 metric tonnes of portable water tanks and water purification tablets, which will all be used in UNICEF's critical work to help children and their families affected by the earthquake.

The aircraft is expected to land in the Dominican Republic this evening and the cargo will then be transferred to Haiti by land.

In Haiti, UNICEF is leading on water, sanitation, nutrition and health and is currently distributing water in Port au Prince and Jacmel.

UNICEF is currently providing drinking water to over 80,000 people. It is also providing 120,000 litres per day to the general hospital in Port au Prince.

Executive Director of UNICEF UK David Bull said: "These supplies being flown in by Thomas Cook will help us to provide water to thousands more in the coming days.

"UNICEF aid has been reaching Haiti for several days now but we continue to need crucial and life-saving supplies to ensure that we can reach more of the children and families who need it. All children have a right to access clean water, even in an emergency situation, and I'd like to say a huge thank you to Thomas Cook for helping us to transport such vital equipment.

"We rely solely on voluntary donations to carry out our life-saving work and we cannot thank all our supporters enough for their generosity."

UNICEF UK is appealing for funds for its emergency work in Haiti. UNICEF does not receive money from the DEC nor from the UN budget. The public can donate at either or by calling on 0800-316-5353.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

UNICEF personnel in Haiti are available for interview.

High resolution photos of UNICEF's work in Haiti are available on request.

About UNICEF

UNICEF is the world's leading organisation working for children and their rights in more than 190 countries. As champion of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF works to help every child realise their full potential. Together with our partners, UNICEF delivers health care, nutrition, education and protection to children in urgent need, while working with governments to ensure they deliver on their promise to protect and promote the rights of every child. UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary donations from individuals, governments, institutions and corporations, and is not funded by the UN budget. For more information, please visit .

For more information contact Katie Morrison in the UNICEF UK Press office, Tel +44(0)207-375-8922

CONTACT: For more information contact Katie Morrison in the UNICEF UKPress office, Tel +44(0)207-375-8922