NEW York, 26 December: The UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) has received the single largest earmarked donation in its 60-year history – 201 million US dollar (ca. 1,2 milliarder DKR) pledged by the Government of the Netherlands to radically expand the agencys efforts to ensure that youngsters caught in conflict and natural disasters as well as those emerging from crisis can go to school.
– We will use this uniquely generous donation from the Dutch people to reach more children with even better quality programmes, UNICEF Programme Funding Director Karin Hulshof said.
– Millions of children who might never have had the joy of the first day of school, never seen a book or held a pencil will be transformed thanks to this gift, added she.
While schooling children stuck in emergencies, whether conflict or natural disasters, is a core part of UNICEFs mandate, this donation will allow for a dramatic scaling up of programmes. Children recover more quickly if they are in school, a safe haven both physically and psychologically.
Some 25 million children in 40 countries in emergency or post-crisis situations are expected to benefit from the additional funding, which will enable 10 million youngsters currently deprived of any form of education to return to school, and another 15 million living in crisis situation to receive a better education.
The countries include Sudan, Liberia, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territories, Nepal, Myanmar (Burma), Haiti, Sri Lanka, Ivory Coast, Azerbaijan, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Swaziland. The funds will be distributed over four years.
UNICEF will also receive an additional 56 million dollar for water and sanitation programmes, 24 million for child protection programmes and 24 million for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment from the Dutch Government.
(Til sammenligning har VK-regeringen afsat 828,8 mio. kr. i generelt bidrag til UNICEF i 4-års perioden 2007-2010, og beløbet stiger ikke år for år, hvorved det reelt udhules, red. – Kilde: Finansloven for 2007)
– This donation perfectly reflects UNICEFs priorities for children. Education, health, protection and HIV/AIDS prevention are all essential to ensuring a solid future for children and for all of us, Ms. Hulshof concluded.
Kilde: FNs nyhedstjeneste
