20 January 2010

UNICEF's supply response to haiti aims to address the immediate needs of children and families in shelter, Water and Sanitation, Health, Nutrition, and Child Protection. UNICEF is working closely with other UN agencies and humanitarian organisations to coordinate logistics in Panama, Santo Domingo and Port au Prince. This first wave of UNICEF's response addresses requirements based on a target population of 250,000. As needs are identified, this number is expected to increase.

Summary of departures by air: Today Wednesday 20th January, 90 MT of emergency supplies left Billund, Denmark for Santo Domingo. The shipment included: tents, tarpaulins, nutrition kits, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tapes, weighing scales, health and medical kits (midwifery, diarrhoeal, inter-agency emergency health), essential emergency medicines, family water kits, Early Childhood Development kits, recreation kits, and blankets. This was a UNICEF commercial flight.

Also today, 5.5 MT of water bladders and chlorine tablets left London Gatwick for Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The freight was a donation by Thomas Cook.

Tomorrow, Thursday, 21st January, 9.2 MT of jerry cans will leave Charles de Gaulle Airport for Santo Domingo. This cargo space is donated by UPS.

On Friday, 22nd January 20 MT of emergency supply items will leave Billund Airport for Santo Domingo. The cargo will include: 662 Early Childhood Education kits. This will be the second donated airlift from Denmark by British Airways. With support from Air France/KLM, 100 MT of emergency supplies have arrived in Charles de Gaulle Airport today from Copenhagen by truck and will leave Paris for Santo Domingo on Friday, 22 January. Air France/KLM is not applying commercial mark-up for this transportation. Emergency supplies on this plane will include: family water kits, water testing kits, essential medical supplies and medicines, oral rehydration sachets, MUAC tapes, mobile warehouses, tents, tarpaulin sheets, and UNICEF visibility materials.

Photo © US Fund for UNICEF/2010/Alleyne