UNICEF seeking increased support for Iraqi children

Forty-two million dollars has been requested by The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in order to aid Iraqi children affected by violence and displacement, UN News Service reported on May 23.

Since the beginning of Iraqi military operations, 15 percent of Iraq’s population have vacated their homes. Of those 4 million people, half are women and children. For the next six months, UNICEF hopes to provide critical relief for the 1.6 million displaced children living in Iraq, Jordan and Syria.

UNICEF put $10 million of its own money into the expansion of Iraqi child relief programs. The campaign is focused on protection, education and nutrition.

The call for donors to fund this endeavor was launched by Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, who has recently taken the post of UNICEF’s first Eminent Advocate for Children. “For many Iraqi children, the long-term future may be unclear, but their present needs – for education, for health care, for clean water and proper sanitation – are clear and must be met – now.” Queen Rania noted that what the Iraqi children need, above all, is a resolution to the crisis. “That has to be our ultimate hope,” she said.

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