July 24, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 08, 1428

RAWALPINDI, July 23: The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) is seeking $6.3 million for the children and women affected by the widespread floods in Balochistan and Sindh.

With this amount, which has been sought from the UN Flash Appeal of $38 million launched on July 18, Unicef is planning to continue providing safe water to the displaced, restore water and sanitation services, distribute hygiene kits as well as sensitise children and their families to hygiene messages, says a report prepared by Unicef.

One week after the floods in the wake of cyclone Yemyin on 10 July, Unicef launched an “Immediate needs” document requesting $5 million to meet the urgent needs of the affected children and women.

The flash appeal was the result of collaboration between the National Disaster Management Authority, NGOs and the United Nations.

The projects identified in the appeal will provide urgent assistance over the next three months, focusing on shelter, water and sanitation, health, food security and early recovery activities.

The fund will also support the establishment of supplementary feeding programmes to prevent a deterioration of malnutrition among children and pregnant and lactating women and therapeutic feeding programmes to address the needs of children suffering from malnutrition.