[child-rights] UNICEF calls for aid to Iraqi children

$42 million required to meet immediate needs of children in Iraq, Jordan
and Syria

GENEVA/NEW YORK/AMMAN, 23 May 2007 -- Conditions for Iraqi children
affected by violence and displacement have reached a critical point,
UNICEF said today. The children's organization requires $42 million to
provide relief over the next six months for children inside Iraq, as well
as those who fled with their families to neighbouring Jordan and Syria.

"Humanitarian aid offers a lifeline to Iraq's children and stepping up
support now is the best way to protect and invest in Iraq's future," said
Daniel Toole, Acting Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF and Chief of
Emergency Operations. "Plans are in place to reach Iraq's most vulnerable
children with basic health, water, sanitation and education support --
particularly displaced children living in host communities, as well as
children living in Iraq's most violent districts."

UNICEF will also help the Jordanian and Syrian governments in providing
quality social services for the growing population of Iraqi children.
Initial priorities in these countries include ensuring that Iraqi children
have full access to the classroom, health care and protection from
exploitation.

Since 2003, nearly 15 per cent of Iraq's population have fled their homes
-- four million people, half of them children. Many are seeking refuge in
communities that are already poor or hit by violence, pressuring already
weakened social services. Those seeking refuge outside Iraq face an
uncertain future. Complications over residency status may deter many from
seeking health care or enrolling children in school. Among those fleeing
are thousands of doctors, nurses, engineers and teachers -- key service
providers for children. Added to the deaths of so many fathers in the
violence, this exodus is robbing Iraq's children of essential pillars of
support.

"Iraq's drain of care-givers is creating major gaps in children's daily
lives, an issue often overlooked amid the violence," said Roger Wright,
UNICEF Special Representative for Iraq. "We need to fill these gaps to
address the most debilitating effects of the insecurity. Conditions for
too many Iraqi children are deteriorating," he added.

Last week Iraq reported its first suspected cholera cases of the year (all
of them children), increasing fears of a serious outbreak over the summer
months. The deterioration of Iraq's water and sanitation systems means
only an estimated 30 per cent of children have access to safe water.
Health services are becoming increasingly hard to access. And with many
schools hit hard by insecurity and overcrowding, too few children are
completing this school year with a quality education.

Toole said that Iraq is simply not secure enough to deliver a full range
of assistance in many areas. But he stressed it is still possible to help
a large number of children in need. A recent UNICEF and WHO-supported
national Measles, Mumps and Rubella immunization campaign has just reached
3.6 million children (90 per cent of its goal) in a house-to-house
campaign, partly funded by the European Commission. Such generous
international support to Iraq must continue, especially for children,
until the Government of Iraq can provide for its own, he added.

"Our experience operating daily inside Iraq confirms to us that aid does
indeed reach children and makes a tremendous impact, even in extremely
insecure areas." Toole said.

View full report: IMMEDIATE NEEDS FOR IRAQI CHILDREN IN IRAQ AND
NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES
http://www.unicef.org/media/files/final_immediate_needs_iraq_(17may07).pdf
(PDF)

UNICEF Press release