聯(lián)合國兒童基金會向受災(zāi)兒童緊急運送教學(xué)物資

7-year-old Ren Qu of Tibetan ethnic group is solving a mathematical problem during a short break among classes inside the temporary classroom at racecourse Gyegu Town of quake-hit Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu, northwest China's Qinghai Province, April 25, 2010. [Xinhua]

??????? 聯(lián)合國兒童基金會于4月21日宣布已向災(zāi)區(qū)發(fā)送150頂學(xué)校帳篷以協(xié)助教育部門在四月底之前爭取實現(xiàn)全面復(fù)課。

???????震中位于中國西北部青海省玉樹縣結(jié)古鎮(zhèn)的7.1級地震對當(dāng)?shù)貙W(xué)校造成了較大影響。據(jù)玉樹縣教育部門估計，該縣80％的小學(xué)和50％的中學(xué)校舍在此次強震中嚴重受損。

???????聯(lián)合國兒童基金會于4月20日向災(zāi)區(qū)發(fā)送了150頂學(xué)校帳篷。玉樹縣屬于國家級貧困縣。

???????結(jié)古鎮(zhèn)近半數(shù)的學(xué)生來自于周邊的偏遠鄉(xiāng)村，在縣城的寄宿學(xué)校中上學(xué)。玉樹縣目前有23197名學(xué)生和938名教師。在災(zāi)難過后，盡早讓孩子們返回課堂是幫助他們從社會心理壓力中恢復(fù)的重要措施。由聯(lián)合國兒童基金會提供的150頂72平米學(xué)校帳篷可以容納7500名學(xué)生，幫助他們繼續(xù)學(xué)業(yè)。此外，聯(lián)合國兒童基金會還將為寄宿制和非寄宿制學(xué)校提供學(xué)生用具、黑板、發(fā)電機、防寒服、棉靴、毛毯和教學(xué)用具等。

???????“我們很高興地看到，這場災(zāi)難過后不久中國政府就采取了積極有力的措施，幫助學(xué)生復(fù)課。” 聯(lián)合國兒童基金會駐華代表兼聯(lián)合國在華災(zāi)情管理工作組主席魏英瑛博士（Dr. Yin Yin Nwe）說。“我們正在與教育部門合作，向?qū)W生們提供復(fù)課所需的物資。”

???????截至4月22日17:00點，地震已造成2187人死亡，80人失蹤，12135人受傷。由于缺乏足夠的食品、衣物和安置物資，再加上災(zāi)區(qū)位于高海拔地區(qū)，夜晚氣溫在零度以下，陸路較難到達，都給救災(zāi)工作造成了一定的困難。此外，近日災(zāi)區(qū)又出現(xiàn)了降雪和大風(fēng)天氣，主要的公路交通運輸線面臨較大壓力，一定程度上也影響了工作進展。

???????隨著搜救工作接近尾聲，聯(lián)合國兒童基金會將繼續(xù)向相關(guān)部門了解災(zāi)區(qū)兒童的需求并協(xié)調(diào)開展援助行動。

???????災(zāi)區(qū)的食品供應(yīng)成為主要問題。聯(lián)合國機構(gòu)正通力合作，協(xié)調(diào)援助行動。聯(lián)合國兒童基金會將為災(zāi)區(qū)兒童提供維他命和礦物質(zhì)補充劑，而聯(lián)合國世界糧食計劃署將提供食品，以增加兒童的營養(yǎng)供給。

???????目前，民政部門仍在統(tǒng)計在地震中失去一方或雙方父母的兒童人數(shù)。鑒于地震造成了較大人員傷亡，并對民房、學(xué)校和社區(qū)造成大面積損壞，兒童和其他脆弱群體所面臨的心理壓力已經(jīng)引起了各方的較大關(guān)注。

???????聯(lián)合國兒童基金會將協(xié)助國務(wù)院婦女兒童工作委員會設(shè)立“兒童友好家園”，為災(zāi)區(qū)兒童提供全面的社會心理支持服務(wù)。聯(lián)合國兒童基金會發(fā)現(xiàn)，在災(zāi)難過后，90%到95%的婦女兒童在接受以社區(qū)為基礎(chǔ)的服務(wù)后可以走出災(zāi)難造成的心理陰影，但仍有5%至10%的人需要更為專業(yè)化的干預(yù)措施。如果不能及時有效的滿足兒童和社區(qū)的心理和社會需求，可能會長期影響他們的心理康復(fù)能力。

???????聯(lián)合國兒童基金會在1947年至1951年間即解放前后曾向中國提供援助，援助內(nèi)容包括：緊急救援、食品營養(yǎng)以及提供衛(wèi)生保健培訓(xùn)等。1979年，聯(lián)合國兒童基金會正式開始與中國政府合作，為兒童提供衛(wèi)生保健和營養(yǎng)、良好的供水和環(huán)境衛(wèi)生設(shè)施，保障所有男孩和女孩都能接受優(yōu)質(zhì)的基礎(chǔ)教育，并保護兒童免受暴力、剝削和艾滋病的傷害。聯(lián)合國兒童基金會在全世界超過150個國家和地區(qū)開展工作，幫助兒童在嬰幼兒期和青少年時期實現(xiàn)生存和發(fā)展的權(quán)利。

UNICEF rushing school supplies to quake-affected children

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said at a press release on April 21 that it had dispatched 150 school tents to the earthquake zone in a bid to support education authorities' goal of re-establishing regular classes by the end of April.

The 7.1 magnitude earthquake which struck near the town of Jiegu in northwest China, took a heavy toll on schools. Local education authorities estimate 80 percent of primary schools and 50 percent of secondary schools in the county were severely damaged.

UNICEF Tuesday dispatched 150 school tents to the earthquake zone. Yushu is one of the poorest counties in China.

Fully 50 percent of students in Jiegu Township are boarding students, sent from surrounding areas to the county seat for their studies. Yushu County has a total of 23,197 students and 938 teachers. The early return of children to school following disaster is an important step in helping them overcome psychosocial stress. The UNICEF 72 square meter classroom tents will provide space for 7,500 students to resume their studies. UNICEF is also sending student supply kits, blackboards and generators, as well as warm clothing, boots, wool blankets and school supplies for children in both day and boarding schools.

"We are very happy that strong Government efforts are being made to assist children to recommence classes following this disaster," said Dr. Yin Yin Nwe, UNICEF Representative in China and Chair of the UN Disaster Management Team. "We are working with education authorities to provide all the basic needs required for children to continue to learn."

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the number of earthquake casualties stood at 2,187 dead, 80 missing and 12,135 injured. The lack of food, clothing and shelter combined with the high altitude, freezing temperatures and difficult road access continue to complicate relief efforts. Recent snowfall, high winds and the heavy traffic of relief convoys are also hindering efforts.

As search and rescue efforts wind down UNICEF continues to coordinate its assistance with local and national authorities best placed to assess the needs of children.

Food supply is also a serious problem in the earthquake zone and UN agencies are working together to coordinate assistance. Vitamin and mineral supplement packets from UNICEF will be provided along with staple foods for young children from World Food Programme in order to increase nutrient intake.

Currently, civil affairs authorities are still trying to determine the number of children who have lost one or both parents to the earthquake. Given the loss of lives caused by the earthquake and the extensive damage caused to homes, schools and communities, psychological distress to children and other vulnerable groups has been identified as a grave concern.

UNICEF will help the National Working Committee on Children and Women to establish "Child Friendly Spaces" to provide a range of psycho-social support services for affected children. UNICEF has found that 90–95 percent of children and women are able to recover following disasters from community based services alone; but 5–10 percent require more expert treatment to recover. Failure to promptly and appropriately address the psychological and social needs of children and communities can have long-term consequences on their capacity to recover.

UNICEF first assisted China between 1947 and 1951, providing emergency services, food and nutrition, health and hygiene training during and after the war of liberation. In 1979 UNICEF officially commenced its cooperation with the Government of China to support child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.

(China.org.cn April 27, 2010)