PHA-Exchange> NETHERLANDS GIVE UNICEF LARGEST SINGLE DONATION EVER - OVER $200 MILLION

[claudio at hcmc.netnam.vn]

from Vern Weitzel <vern at coombs.anu.edu.au> -----

Subject: NETHERLANDS GIVE UNICEF LARGEST SINGLE DONATION EVER - OVER $200 
MILLION
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2006 12:01:47 -0500
From: UNNews at un.org
Reply-To: <UNNews at un.org>
Organization: United Nations

NETHERLANDS GIVE UNICEF LARGEST SINGLE DONATION EVER – OVER $200 MILLION
New York, Dec 26 2006 12:00PM
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has received the single largest 
earmarked donation in 
its 60-year history - $201 million pledged by the Government of the 
Netherlands to radically expand 
the agency’s efforts to ensure that youngsters caught in conflict and 
natural disasters as well as 
those emerging from crisis can go to school.

“We will use this uniquely generous 
<"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_37867.html">donation from 
the Dutch people to reach more children with even better quality 
programmes,” UNICEF Programme 
Funding Director Karin Hulshof said. “Millions of children who might never 
have had the joy of the 
first day of school, never seen a book or held a pencil will be transformed 
thanks to this gift.”

While schooling children stuck in emergencies, whether conflict or natural 
disasters, is a core part 
of UNICEF’s mandate, this donation will allow for a dramatic scaling up of 
programmes. Children 
recover more quickly if they are in school, a safe haven both physically and 
psychologically.

Some 25 million children in 40 countries in emergency or post-crisis 
situations are expected to 
benefit from the additional funding, which will enable 10 million youngsters 
currently deprived of 
any form of education to return to school, and another 15 million living in 
crisis situation to 
receive a better education.

The countries include Sudan, Liberia, Central African Republic, Democratic 
Republic of the Congo 
(DRC), Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territories, Nepal, Myanmar, Haiti, Sri 
Lanka, Côte d'Ivoire, 
Azerbaijan, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Swaziland. The funds will be 
distributed over four years.

UNICEF will also receive an additional $56 million for water and sanitation 
programmes, $24 million 
for child protection programmes and $24 million for HIV/AIDS prevention and 
treatment from the Dutch 
Government.

“This donation perfectly reflects UNICEF's priorities for children,” Ms. 
Hulshof said. “Education, 
health, protection and HIV/AIDS prevention are all essential to ensuring a 
solid future for children 
and for all of us.”


------------------------------------------------------------------
This mail sent through Netnam-HCMC ISP: http://www.hcmc.netnam.vn/