[TOKYO, Japan, 14 March 2011]
In order to support children in areas hit by the 2011 Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake, Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director, officially announced to the Japanese government at midnight March 13, 2011 (JPT) UNICEF’s wish to cooperate with the Japan Committee for UNICEF in providing support for child protection, psychosocial support, and other areas which require professional knowledge and skills, in particular, and in providing wider emergency support such as in education and health.
This is the first time in about fifty years that UNICEF has offered support for Japanese children. UNICEF provided support to Japan with powdered skimmed milk for 15 years immediately after the end of World War II, between 1949 and 1964, and to victims of the Ise Bay Typhoon in 1959.
In conjunction with the present support from UNICEF, the Japan Committee for UNICEF will provide 100 million yen to be used for immediate support activities. Within the next few days, the Committee will start its activities, including supplying relief goods to shelters in disaster hit areas in cooperation with prefectural subdivisions and partner organizations there