January 28, 2010 – The UNICEF appeal to assist Haiti’s earthquake victims has evoked response from the Russian people. Over the last two weeks, more than 500,000 rubles have been raised. The donations are used to procure and deliver shelter materials, drinking water, food, sanitation and health supplies for children and their families affected by the terrible tragedy in Haiti.

Moreover, UNICEF has received numerous messages through Internet, some of them quite unexpected, from those who preferred not to remain indifferent to other people’s misfortunes:

I have made a small contribution to assist the affected people. I wish I could have contributed more, but presently, I can not afford it. I sympathize with survivors of the horrible disaster in Haiti and hope that many other people will also respond to this appeal. At the first opportunity, I’ll make another contribution. Respectfully, Dmitry S.

I have some happy news to share with you, which I got the next day after I had made a donation to UNICEF! Last summer, I was diagnosed with infertility. However, several days ago, I got a positive pregnancy test!!! Hurray!!! Now I believe that when you give, you receive even more in return. I do hope that more people will respond to the appeal and donate what they can to help. Good luck to such a noble cause! Respectfully, Yulia S.

I am happy that I am able to assist these young children, if only a little. Thank you ever so much for what you are doing! (anonymous)

UNICEF would like to express its sincere gratitude to all those who have extended a helping hand to Haiti’s children. More funds are being raised, as the situation remains extremely complicated. Donations of any amount, no matter how small, will help. For example, 1,500 rubles can buy hygienic kits for five families, including 72 bars of soap, 20 plastic water canisters, 10 laundry basins, 500 water purification tablets.

You can make your donation at the UNICEF web-site www.unicef.ru and www.supportunicef.ru

What has been accomplished so far

Even before the earthquake, Haiti was one of the poorest countries in the world. Today, the situation there is nothing short of catastrophic. It is children – who comprise almost half of Haiti’s population - who have proved to be the most vulnerable during a disaster of such magnitude.

UNICEF focuses on assisting, first and foremost, the affected children and their families. Besides, UNICEF is the leading UN agency for water and sanitation in the quake zone.

Since the earthquake struck the small Caribbean nation, six cargo planes carrying UNICEF emergency supplies have arrived in Haiti and the neighboring Dominican republic. Several more flights are scheduled in the next few days. As of today, thousands of tons of emergency supplies have been shipped to Haiti to meet the needs of 250,000 survivors.

Working in close cooperation with Direction Nationale de l’Eau Potable et de l’Assainissement (DINEPA), UNICEF has established 115 water distribution points throughout Port-o-Prince and surrounding suburbs, where clean water is delivered every day.

UNICEF aid workers are busy putting up tents to accommodate child-feeding centres, emergency health and immunization posts and setting up safe spaces and developing family-tracing programmes for children who are lost or separated from their families. Every day, UNICEF provides assistance to 2,000 unaccompanied children, and this figure is expected to double shortly.

UNICEF has been closely following the developments in Haiti on an ongoing basis. For more information about the latest developments in Haiti, the current donation status and the latest video reports from the site of the tragedy, see the web-site www.unicef.org/russia/ru/media_13785.html (Russian version), www.unicef.org/russia/media_13799.html (English version)

UNICEF is ready to provide photo and video materials for journalists.