UNICEF Humanitarian Operation in Haiti Zeroes in on Unaccompanied Children

LONDON, January 28 - Assistance to unaccompanied children, who have lost or became separated
from their families, is a focus of UNICEF's Haitian humanitarian operations,
in the wake of the deadly earthquake which struck on 12 January.

While it continues daily delivery of critical life-saving supplies such
as water, nutrition, shelter and medicine (so far, UNICEF supplies for
250,000 children have arrived and are being distributed), UNICEF and partners
like Save the Children have also begun registering unaccompanied children
found in the streets of Port au Prince. A programme will then begin to trace
the families of these children, if they exist.

"Safe Spaces" for unaccompanied children including infants are now set up
in the capital. These locations allow UNICEF and its partners to assist and
protect children who have nowhere else to go, until their families are found
or alternative arrangements are made.

Unaccompanied children are especially vulnerable to disease, malnutrition
and exploitation, including trafficking and need urgent assistance as well
as, in many cases, long term support.

The safe spaces are places where unaccompanied children can find shelter,
food, water and medicines and they can also serve as make-shift schools and
recreation areas.

Safe spaces have been used by UNICEF to protect children in the aftermath
of emergencies, most recently in cyclone-hit Myanmar and in Banda Aceh,
Indonesia, post-Tsunami and also to reunite them with their families. With
nearly 40 per cent of the population under 14 years of age in Haiti, this is
clearly a children's emergency, and the need for support and protection,
registration and family tracing is widespread.

The earthquake which struck on 12 January caused huge numbers of deaths,
injuries and widespread damage to Haiti's already fragile infrastructures.
The United Nations and its humanitarian agencies, NGOs, the US Government and
many others, have mounted a massive relief and rebuilding operation.

About UNICEF

UNICEF is the world's leading organisation working for children and their
rights in more than 190 countries. As champion of the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF works to help every child
realise their full potential. Together with our partners, UNICEF delivers
health care, nutrition, education and protection to children in urgent need,
while working with governments to ensure they deliver on their promise to
protect and promote the rights of every child. UNICEF relies entirely on
voluntary donations from individuals, governments, institutions and
corporations, and is not funded by the UN budget. For more information,
please visit www.unicef.org.uk.

For more information, please contact:

Terry Ally, Senior Media Officer, International Programmes and
Emergencies, UNICEF UK, Tel: +44(0)20-7375-6014, 24-hour Press Line:
+44(0)20-7336-8922

Christopher de Bono, UNICEF Media, New York, Tel +1-212-303-7984,
E-mail: cdebono@unicef.org

Patrick McCormick, UNICEF Media, New York, Tel +1-212-326-7426, E-mail:
pmccormick@unicef.org

For more information, please contact: Terry Ally, Senior Media Officer, International Programmes and Emergencies, UNICEF UK, Tel: +44(0)20-7375-6014, 24-hour Press Line: +44(0)20-7336-8922; Christopher de Bono, UNICEF Media, New York, Tel + 1-212-303-7984,
E-mail: cdebono at unicef.org; Patrick McCormick, UNICEF Media, New York, Tel +1-212-326-7426, E-mail: pmccormick at unicef.org