USAID and UNICEF partner to get urgent supplies to conflict-affected children in Central African Republic | WPN World People News

A cargo plane carrying over 186 metric tons of emergency supplies for children in conflict-affected Central African Republic (CAR) arrived this week in Bangui. The airlift and supplies, provided by USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), include 24,080 buckets, 24,000 wool blankets, 12,000 kitchen sets, 1,090 rolls of plastic sheeting and 28 crates of water bladder kits which will be distributed to highly vulnerable populations. The flight is the first of a two-part airlift to benefit 60,000 vulnerable people. The second airlift is scheduled to arrive in two weeks.

“Long before the ongoing conflict, Central African children were already among the most vulnerable in the world,” said Souleymane Diabaté, UNICEF CAR Representative. “Young lives are being shattered by this ongoing crisis that has lasted over two years. Basic things such as a blanket to stay warm or a bucket to store clean water make a big difference for vulnerable families struggling to survive.”

“Right now, the Central African Republic is among the most dangerous places for aid workers to do their job,” said Jeremy Konyndyk, Director of USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance. “This airlift represents the commitment of the U.S. government to save lives and make sure our assistance reaches those most in need, especially in the hardest to reach and underserved areas of the country.”

USAID/OFDA is supporting UNICEF’s emergency response with a new contribution of over US $1.8 million for safe water, emergency health services and relief supplies. In total, USAID/OFDA has contributed over US $6 million towards UNICEF’s emergency response in CAR since January 2014. “Without such important partnerships, UNICEF would not be able to reach as many children as we do now,” Diabaté said.

Source: United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund