UNICEF Mali Situation Report April 2013

Transcription

1 UNICEF Mali Situation Report April 2013 HEADLINES The government of Mali established a Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission on 25 April to address security and governance in the North. The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted Resolution 2100, approving the establishment of MINUSMA, a 12,640 strong stabilisation force in Mali. The United Nations and humanitarian community are working to determine a path forward regarding integration and humanitarian space. In Gao and Timbuktu 321 schools have re-opened, bringing over 76,600 students and 1,561 teachers back to the classrooms. This trend has been noted in urban areas and has occurred largely without the timely return of government authorities to the North. The UNICEF-led WASH Cluster has expressed concern that this cholera season may be worse than in years past. UNICEF continues to provide assistance including hygiene and NFI kits and infrastructure rehabilitation in Kidal, Mopti and Ségou. The seven children associated with armed groups who were detained on the battlefield in March have been transferred by UNICEF to a permanent centre where they are receiving assistance, including psychosocial support and vocational training. UNICEF is working together with the government of Mali, WFP and NGOs to launch a SMART nutrition survey in Gao starting 30 April. This is the first such survey in conflictaffected northern Mali since 2011 and will be crucial in determining needs and priorities for nutrition interventions. To respond to humanitarian needs in Mali, UNICEF requires US $81.9 million for response activities. So far only 25 per cent of the required funding has been received. France and the European Union will co-chair, in close cooperation with Mali, an international donors conference for the development of Mali on 15 May in Brussels. UNICEF - IRC mother and baby tents in Kati, Mali. UNICEF/ Jessica DuPlessis, 29 Apri

2 SITUATION AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS The security situation over the past month has remained tense in northern Mali, with periodic clashes between armed forces and groups around Timbuktu and Gao. According to some sources, the restoration of security may be a long and drawn-out process. With the range of political and security implications, it is crucial that the re-establishment of political and security norms in Mali be done in tandem with the restoration of social services nationwide. Presidential elections are slated to take place this July. While the restoration of a national government is crucial for Mali s overall stability, it is important that the international community focuses on support for humanitarian activities during the electoral period and beyond. With over 173,000 refugees residing in neighboring countries, it is critical to ensure that school-age Malian refugees are provided with accessible, quality educational programming. This month UNICEF along with the Ministry of Education led a mission to Malian refugee camps in Niger (50,000 refugees) and Burkina Faso (49,000 refugees) to look at how best to harmonize educational programming. UNHCR reports 13,000 school-aged refugee children are registered in Burkina Faso, of which 2,000 are in school, following that country s curriculum. The Ministry of Education in Mali has no arrangements for the organization of exams for these children, which could cause children to fall behind when they return to school in Mali. The refugee students will receive a certificate of attendance by the Ministry of Education in Burkina Faso. In Niger, UNHCR reports 5,724 school-aged refugee children registered in camps, of which 4,500 are in school. Both the Malian and Nigerien curriculum are being followed, which is problematic since exams are held at the end of the primary cycle in Niger but not in Mali. The Malian government will provide their middle school curriculum to the Ministry of Education in Niger. This will help Malian children follow their exam schedule and curriculum. Four new victims of landmines / unexploded ordinances were recorded in April in Timbuktu. Two of the victims were children who succumbed to their injuries. There have been 462 reported cases of measles with 12 deaths since the start of the recent outbreak that has affected Gao and Kidal. For the same period last year, there were 178 cases and 0 deaths. The WASH Cluster is concerned that the number of people affected by this year s cholera season will be significantly greater than previous years (i.e. 2012, 2011, 2008). Evaluations show that more and more people are collecting water from contaminated surface water sources due to conflict damage, looting, reduced access to spare parts, fuel shortages, and continued prolonged drought - in addition to a year s absence of qualified water system operators or mechanics and a year s absence of government technical and institutional support. IDPs in Mopti, Ségou and Bamako continue to put extreme pressure on existing water points. Price increases put basic commodities like soap outside of the reach of the most vulnerable. The Child Protection sub-cluster has received reports of children formerly associated with armed groups spontaneously returning to their original communities or other areas. There is a need to strengthen community-based protection mechanisms to prevent and reduce the risk of retaliation or discrimination against these children. Four humanitarian organizations have issued a statement stating that northern Mali will descend to emergency levels of food insecurity in less than two months if the security situation and humanitarian access to vulnerable communities do not improve. UNICEF continues to monitor the situation closely. Mali: Situation at a Glance Total population (census 2009) 14,528,662 Children under ,453,080 Children Under Five 3,114,000 Children Under Five with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) 2 210,000 Children Under Five with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) 2 450,000 Internally Displaced Population in Mali as of 21 March New Internally Displaced People 3 37,900 Refugees in Neighbouring countries 4 175,221 Number of Separated/ Unaccompanied Children registered Dec ,572 Feb 2013 (verification pending) 5 (Of which 142 non-accompanied) Number of mine/ UXO victims Children 2010 (proportion of total population); 2 Cluster Nutrition, June 2012 CAP, based upon data from the June 2011 SMART survey; 3 Population Movement Commission estimates; Jan 31 March. 4 A total number of 46 refugees in Guinea and Togo are included in the 175,211 refugees reported by UNHCR 5 This information is being verified and may contain up to 20 children included twice in the data due to overlap between different partners data child victims including 5 child deaths; 12 victims in UNICEF database to be harmonised with the UNMAS database being established in Mali. 2

3 UNICEF FUNDING (in $US as of 18 April 2013) Appeal Sector HAC / CAP 2013 requirements Received* Unmet requirements % Funding needed Nutrition 34,770,000 7,359,928 27,410,072 79% Health 6,741,000 2,872,024 3,868,976 57% WASH 19,159,059 3,857,271 15,301,788 80% Education 7,725,400 3,273,429 4,451,971 58% Child Protection 9,270,708 1,704,876 7,565,832 82% Cluster/Sector Coordination 4,333,096 1,143,564 3,189,532 74% Total allocated 81,999,263 20,211,092 61,788,171 75% Not allocated 1,346,769 Total Received 21,557,861 *The total includes a maximum recovery rate of 7%. The actual recovery rate on contributions will be calculated in accordance with UNICEF Executive Board Decision 2006/7 dated 9 June INTER-AGENCY COLLABORATION UNICEF in Mali has partnership agreements with 27 organisations and an additional six organisations that in the pipeline. Since 2012 UNICEF has signed partnership agreements (both development and emergency) amounting to $22.7 million. UNICEF also works with government institutions to finance activities and supplies. In the last month new funding has been received from governments of Finland, Luxemburg, Poland and Spain. ECHO also provided assistance this month as has the CERF. UNICEF Partner NGOs ACOD, ACF-E, ACTED, Action Mopti, ADDA, Alima-AMCP, AMPDR, ASDAP, AVSF, CARE, ENDA/BNCE, Family Care International, Handicap International, IRC, Jigi, MDM-B, Oxfam-GB, Protos, RECOTRADE, Red Cross France, Save the Children, SAMUSocial, Sini Sanuman, Solidarités International, SNV, Terre des Hommes, Ya-G-Tu. CONFLICT RESPONSE AND RECOVERY Nutrition data for humanitarian response is reported nationwide and is indicated in the nutrition response table below in the Mali Nutrition Response section. UNICEF & operational partners Sector / Cluster Sector Indicator UNICEF Cluster WASH Number of people who received temporary access to potable chlorinated water of sufficient quantity Number of people who received access to an improved potable water source Number of households received a hygiene kit & a community hygiene 1,549, ,614 13% 2,000, ,567 23% 136,000 18,000 13% 250,000 67,317 27% 200,000 36,138 8% 200,000 40,738 20% 3

4 UNICEF & operational partners Sector / Cluster Sector Indicator UNICEF Cluster awareness session (in conflict affected areas) Health Child Protection Education Health / nutrition centres received WASH interventions (latrines / safe water/ chlorine products / hygiene promotion) % % UNICEF Operational Partners: ACF-E, ACTED, CARE, Handicap International, IRC, MDM-B, Oxfam-GB, Solidarités International. Number of people benefitting from Inter- Agency Health Kits 1,400, ,000 14% (IEHK) 1 Number of children under five vaccinated against Polio in each round in the three 276,493 16,720 6% conflict affected regions 2 Number of children under - five provided Vitamin A in each 276,493 15,200 6% round in the three conflict affected regions Number of children and adults) vaccinated against measles in the conflict affected north 3 107,568 UNICEF Operational Partners: ALIMA, MDM. Integrated immunisation campaigns planned for northern regions in April and September. 1 This includes 800,000 for Timbuktu, Kidal, Gao and 600,000 for northern Mopti. 2 In general, vaccination campaigns are only being slowly implemented based on evolving security evaluations in the north. 3 In response to an on-going measles outbreak, 52,848 children aged between 6 months and 14 years and 54,720 children and adults under 29 years have been vaccinated against measles in the north over the last 6 weeks, UNICEF Number of people reached by community level Mine Risk Education activities Number of personnel trained to conduct Mine Risk Education activities Number of children released from armed groups provided with care / support 68,337 Data not 188 No 7 Data not Data not 68,337 Data not 188 No 7 UNICEF Operational Partners: ENDA/BNCE, Handicap International, IRC, Sini Sanuman, Tagne, Caritas, IOM, UNMAS Data not IDP children in host schools/ conflict or flood affected children 403,800 17, % 754,724 34, % benefitting from Education Supplies Teachers trained to provide psychosocial support to students 1 6,880 1,157 17% 12,578 1,640 13% 4

5 C4D Sector Indicator Temporary learning spaces installed Early childhood development centres installed UNICEF & operational partners UNICEF Cluster Sector / Cluster % % % % UNICEF Operational Partners: IRC, Aga Khan. Other partners operational but not under a humanitarian PCA with UNICEF include: Save the Children, Plan International, World Education, Guamina, STOP SAHEL, Fandeema, Omaes, Promavi, Right to Play. 1 The target for training on psychosocial support is additional to the 870 teachers trained in Number of concessions visited by local 3,672 1,676 46% communicators Number of group discussions on EFP 9,546 7,722 81% Number of displaced persons educated on Essential Family Practices No 1,742 N/A EDUCATION UNICEF and partners programming (with UNICEF financial/technical support) From from April 2013 UNICEF and the Ministry of Education are holding a workshop to reorganize the national curriculum to ensure the provision remedial education for children in Mali. This month UNICEF supported the Ministry of Education in establishing and validating key messages pertaining to early childhood and girls education in 13 languages. Some 3,564 parents participated in UNICEF-led community outreach and sensitization activities on the food and nutrition crisis, supporting the development needs of host communities and IDPs. UNICEF, in partnership with Plan-Mali, has completed the construction of 10 Early Childhood Development Centers in Ségou region, which are currently supporting 50 children. To support conflictaffected students in Ségou, UNICEF partner Plan-Mali is distributing 1,950 schools kits there. Education Cluster This school year, the Education Cluster members have distributed 38,251 school kits to crisis-affected children, including 45 school kits for conflict-affected schools in Ségou region, distributed by Plan-Mali this month. UNICEF partner Plan-Mali trained 150 teachers in Ségou region in psychosocial support, teaching large groups and remedial teaching. Save the Children trained 195 teachers in the conflict-affected commune of Diabaly in Ségou in psychosocial support. To date, the Education Cluster has trained 2,720 teachers working in conflict and post-conflict settings in education in emergency thematic issues. According to the 2013 CAP, the UNICEF-led Education cluster is currently 18 per cent funded, with an additional $15 million required. CHILD PROTECTION UNICEF and partners programming (with UNICEF financial/technical support) In Bamako, UNICEF protection, with support from partners, conducted 45 gender-based violence (GBV) public-awareness sessions during which 450 GBV survivors were reported (including 338 women/girls). Of the total, 280 were identified by NGO Sini Sanuman and 96 of them received support, including medical support for one of the survivors. In Mopti city, 43 GBV survivors were identified by UNICEF partner Family Care International in April, in preparation for the cash transfer project funded by UNICEF. Across the region, 621 people (of which 108 were children and 390 were women) were reached with GBV sensitization messaging. This month UNICEF, in collaboration with the Regional Directorate for the promotion of Women and Children (DRPEF) and other protection agencies, visited armed groups in Mopti to inform groups leaders of the laws and regulations against the use of children in armed forces and groups. Over 200 people in 5

6 such groups were involved in this exercise. The groups implicated are the Ngana Koy, Nganda Izo and the Forces de Libération des Régions Nord, which formed a coalition called the Front Populaire de Résistance since February Mine risk education (MRE) continues in Mopti, with 106 people having received MRE sensitization and 52 people made privy to the danger of family separation this month. To date, UNICEF and partners has conducted mine risk education activities for about 10,000 people in April in Timbuktu and Mopti. Child Protection sub-cluster The Protocole d Accord regarding children associated with armed forces and armed groups is at its final review stage and should be signed by the Malian government imminently. Two transit centers, one in Bamako and one in Mopti, are now operational and ready to receive demobilized children. A training session on child protection in conflict has been confirmed for all military personnel of the battalion being trained by the EU Training Mission to be delivered by UNICEF on 11 May. The Malian organization AVES organized a workshop for local militias to raise awareness on the issue of children associated with armed forces or groups. A multi-sectoral assessment in Youwarou and Tenenkou has emphasized the risks associated with landmines/unexploded ordnance, security and an increase of negative coping mechanisms (i.e. early marriage and sexual exploitation). A Mali + 3 (Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania) strategic workshop took place in Dakar from April, which brought together child protection actors from all four countries, including UNHCR and UNICEF. The workshop s objective was to harmonize the respective emergency response plans and develop coordination mechanisms for transnational child protection issues. WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH) UNICEF and partners programming (with UNICEF financial/technical support) UNICEF is supporting Solidarités International in conducting an emergency WASH intervention for 503 displaced families and 167 host families in Talhandak, in Kidal. Some 670 hygiene kits have been distributed to the affected population and 20 cubic meters per day of chlorinated water is being distributed through water trucking. UNICEF is also mobilizing a private drilling company to construct two new boreholes in this area. UNICEF and the Mopti Regional Directorate is training water committees in urban centres in Koro, Bankass, Djenne, Tenenkou to ensure safe water supply to 68,000 people. Since the start of 2013 UNICEF has enabled 313,283 people to access an improved and chlorinated water source in conflictaffected areas. Some 19 water points have been built and 86 reconstructed. CARE, with support from UNICEF, is providing 3,000 IDP families in Ségou and Mopti with NFI kits; 473 have been reached so far. UNICEF has signed a partnership with ACTED to rehabilitate WASH infrastructure that was damaged by the conflict in Diabably, Dogofri and Sokolo (in Ségou). The project is scheduled to begin this month. UNICEF continues to support the Mopti Regional Water Directorate for the operation of piped water systems. So far, 48 drums of chlorine and 20 chlorine testers have been provided. UNICEF partner ACTED conducted activities in Ségou, including hygiene promotion/awareness and distribution of materials in two schools in Diabaly. M&E training for Civil Protection staff is on-going. In Ségou activities include hygiene promotion training in 10 villages, rehabilitation of 20 traditional wells, WASH in Nutrition in five community health centres (CSCOMs) and hygiene kit distribution. WASH Cluster Last month 13,300 hygiene kits benefiting 79,886 people were distributed by UNICEF partners International Rescue Committee (IRC), Action contre la faim Spain (ACF-E) and the Regional Health Directorates of Kayes, Koulikoru and Mopti. Some 8,865 kits were for cholera prevention. In Mopti, Save the Children distributed hygiene kits and trained staff on hygiene promotion in 13 health centres. Mobile teams from Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (AVSF) have returned to Timbuktu and Bourem and restarted their activities on 12 March. The activities include distribution of family hygiene kits and rehabilitation and support of water systems. The International Committee of the Red Crescent (ICRC) continues to deliver fuel to the power stations in Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu to ensure access to water and power. In Kidal region, in Tinzawaten ICRC works in three IDP sites, distributing hygiene kits, constructing latrines and rehabilitating eight water points. The construction of two boreholes is planned for a fourth site. ICRC plans to rehabilitate water networks in Douentza and Konna. Meanwhile, Mercy Corps distributed food and WASH supplies (aquatabs, soap) for 1,300 families in Gao. In Gao, IRC is conducting WASH interventions in six CSCOMs and 10 schools in Ansongo and Menaka. Work in 11 CSREF in Koulikoro has been finalized by IRC. Intervention continues in five CSCOMs where 6

7 boreholes are being drilled and WASH facilities installed. IRC distributed 1,600 NFI kits, trained 165 community volunteers and disseminated 6,000 radio ads as part of cholera prevention activities. ACF is carrying out activities in 12 CSCOM in Gao, Bourem and Ansongo and distribution of hygiene kits. In Kayes the rehabilitation of 30 latrines and water points is on-going. The second meeting of the Cholera Task Force took place on 4 April at the National Health Directorate. The national cholera prevention and response plan for has been drafted. More WASH actors are needed in CSCOMs and CSREFs. Data show that only 14 per cent of CSCOMs and CSREFs have WASH actors providing support for the minimum WASH package. The UNICEF-led WASH cluster is currently funded at 7 per cent, requiring an additional $50 million. HEALTH UNICEF and partners programming (with UNICEF financial/technical support) UNICEF partner Médecins du Monde Belgium (MDM-B) vaccinated some 52,000 children under the age of 14 in Gao. In Kidal people up to 29 year of age are included in the vaccination campaign, which also includes polio and Vitamin A supplements for children under-five. There has been a higher incidence of people over the age of five catching the disease. In Kidal, for example, 70 per cent of those infected are over five years. The campaign in Kidal is half finished, with 26,246 people under 29 years of age vaccinated for measles, 16,720 and 9,750 of under-fives vaccinated against polio and receiving Vitamin A. The March round of polio immunization days, targeting vulnerable districts in three southern regions of Mopti, Ségou and Kayes reached 1,513,416 children under-five. This was slightly more than the target, which could be due to the presence of children displaced from the north to the south. UNICEF provided the funding for communication and social mobilization activities. Operational support for 37 health facilities, covering a quarter of the normal population, is ongoing. UNICEF provided 10 basic malaria kits and basic medical kits to the NGO ALIMA. The kits are able to treat 10,000 cases of malaria and other basic healthcare for health facilities in Dire district. MALI NUTRITION RESPONSE UNICEF and partners programming (UNICEF financial/ technical support) UNICEF, in collaboration with WHO and in support of the Malian government are organising an integrated polio, Vitamin A and deworming campaign in May. UNICEF has provided technical and planning support. The number of children aged 6 59 months targeted for Vitamin A is 6,196,211 and for de-worming 5,576,590. Nutrition Cluster To date, 54,726 children under five years were admitted to UREN nationwide (southern regions: 36,854 / northern regions:7,902) since the start of 2013 (see below table). About 62 per cent are MAM, 35 per cent are SAM and 4 per cent of all children admitted suffered from SAM with complications. In Kayes and Yélimané health districts, the Malian and French Red Cross led a screening activity which reached 101,189 children under five, of which 6,688 children (7 per cent) were identified as SAM and referred for treatment. The Nutrition Cluster, in collaboration with the government s Nutrition Division, continues to support coordination activities within the nutrition sector. In Kayes, 8 12 April the Mid-Term Review of the Regional Nutrition Cluster was held, with 40 participants from both the government and humanitarian community. The group worked on analysis of 2012 nutritional results, planning for 2013, use of new compilation tools and integrated aspects such as WASH in nutrition and community-based care. This week, the Nutrition Cluster and his governmental counterpart, are in Sikasso in order to assess the need to establish a regional sub-cluster there. Several Cluster members have started rehabilitation / construction of URENI (Intensive Unit for treatment of SAM Children with complications) including: Médecins du Monde-Belgium in health centres (CSREF) in Ménaka and in Gao, International Rescue Committee in Kati in Koulikouro and Terre des Hommes- Lausanne in Markala in Ségou. Lack of access in the north limited the implementation of SMART methodology in 2012, which has somewhat limited the ability to analyse trends in the north. Presently, improved security conditions in Gao make it possible to conduct a SMART survey there. The survey is planned for end May. The UNICEF-led Nutrition cluster is currently funded at 17 per cent, requiring an additional $61 million. Sector For more Indicator information on the activities UNICEF of & the operational Nutrition, Health, partners Education, Sector Child / Protection Cluster please visit : 7

8 Nutrition WASH Education UNICEF results Achieve d Cluster New admissions to programmes for the treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) with no complications 18,970 18,970 (URENAS) 125,000 17% 125,000 17% New admissions to programmes for the treatment of children with severe acute 1,937 1,937 malnutrition (SAM) with complications (URENI) New admissions to programmes for the treatment of children 100 new admissions with moderate acute 450,000 33,819 8% malnutrition (MAM) (URENAM) Percentage of health areas supported by NGOs for treatment of acute malnutrition 900 (~70%) % UNICEF Operational Partners: ACF-E, Alima-AMCP, ASDAP, AVSF, IRC, MDM-B, MDM-F operational partners supporting 554 health structures of 1,264 nationwide. Number of severely malnourished children in treatment programmes who receive hygiene kits and hygiene promotion 2 28,263 2,100 7% 28,263 2,100 7% UNICEF Operational Partners: ACF-E, ACTED, CARE, Handicap International, IRC, MDM-B, Oxfam-GB, Solidarités International. 2 UNICEF has a dynamic target for the number of malnourished children reached with WASH kits, based upon the actual number of children newly admitted into the SAM treatment programmes. Number of stimulation and recreational centres for % n/a 15 NA malnourished children functional UNICEF Operational Partners: IRC COMMUNICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT (C4D) UNICEF partner RECOTRADE (Réseau des Communicateurs Traditionnels pour le Developpement) is working in 33 vulnerable health districts in Kayes, Koulikoro, Ségou, Mopti, Sikasso, Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu. There they promoted Essential Family Practices (EFP) to 4,016 religious and community leaders facilitated visits to 20,214 households and 6,922 group discussions with 38,278 participants. 8

9 ASDAP (Association de Soutien au Développement des Activités de Population) facilitated 822 educational group discussions took place on EFP and infant and young child feeding in the regions of Ségou, Mopti and Sikasso. ASDAP facilitated 1,620 counselling sessions and 1,460 house visits for 25,189 beneficiaries. These activities benefitted 31,236 people. In April, 18 community dialogue sessions also took place with 25,189 beneficiaries. Action plans of Regional Directorates for Social Development were also rolled-out in 3 vulnerable districts in Ségou, (San,Tomian, Niono). The three health districts are continued to conducted her work plan with following results: o 138 houses visits including displaced households for EFP promotion, good nutrition practices and promotion of the use of basic social services have been conducted by 69 community workers in the three heath districts. o 69 CSCOM health agents lead educational group s discussions and 138 counselling sessions on EFP and good nutrition practices in the 3 heath districts. HIV / AIDS UNICEF has identified139 people living with HIV in Gao at the end of March. The individuals are receiving treatment, but there is a lack of confidentiality which puts them at risk of persecution. There has been an increase in the number of people living with HIV since December last year, when 115 were living in Gao. SUPPLY AND LOGISTICS Since January 2013, UNICEF has distributed 472 metric tons (MT) of supplies. From 15 March to 15 April UNICEF distributed 78 MT of emergency supplies of which 29 MT to the north and 49 MT to the south of Mali. HUMAN RESOURCES UNICEF Mali has increased by 51 staff this year, with a present total of 159 people. There are currently three stand-by partners (Save the Children, Norwegian Refugee Council and Danish Refugee Council) and consultants amongst the staff. UNICEF wishes to express gratitude to all public and private sector donors for the contributions and pledges received, which have made the current response possible. UNICEF would especially like to thank National Committees and donors who have contributed non-earmarked funding. Non-earmarked funding gives UNICEF essential flexibility to direct resources and ensure the delivery of life-saving supplies and interventions to where they are needed most especially in the form of longer-term and predictable funding and in strengthening preparedness and resilience. Continued donor support is critical to continue scaling up the response. UNICEF Mali received financial and material contributions from: Australia, Brazil, Canada, CERF, Denmark, Estonia, European Commission/EC, Finland, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Luxemburg, Poland, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, United States of America; and the Danish Committee for UNICEF, Finnish Committee for UNICEF, French Committee for UNICEF, German Committee for UNICEF, Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF, Iceland National Committee for UNICEF, Japan Committee for UNICEF, Netherlands Committee for UNICEF, New Zealand Committee for UNICEF, UNICEF Bulgaria, UNICEF Canada, UNICEF Chile, United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF, United States Fund for UNICEF. Ms. Francoise Ackermans Representative Telephone: (+223) fackermans@unicef.org For further information, please contact: Mr. Frederic Sizaret Deputy Representative Telephone: (+223) fsizaret@unicef.org Mr. Hector Calderon Chief of Communications Telephone: (+223 ) hcalderon@unicef.org 9