MEDIA RELEASE
13 February 2016
United Nations setting up programmes,
providing personnel in Grenada
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS 14 September 2004 - Representatives of the United Nations system
met today with donors to step up relief efforts to Grenada as the island struggles to cope with the
aftereffects of Hurricane Ivan.
In a meeting chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator Rosina Wiltshire, agencies and donor mapped
out coordination of the humanitarian aid campaign. The UN system already has an assessment team
on the ground to estimate damage, immediate recovery planning and to help coordinate distribution
of relief supplies.
The agencies, including UNDP, UNICEF, FAO, UNIFEM, the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU), UN Office of Drugs and Crime, World Bank and PAHO and representatives of USAID, the
Canadian Development Agency (CIDA), DFID (UK) and the European Union (EU) agreed to
cooperate with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) as lead agency,
meaning that the all relief efforts will be directed through that organization.
UNICEF has taken responsibility for children and education, with a focus also on children’s health
and dissemination of information on children’s health to the public. The children’s agency is chiefly
concerned with getting children back to school as soon as possible, setting up a programme
designed to relieve the sense of loss children are experiencing, and launching a public health
information campaign.
UNICEF consultants are evaluating the damage to schools, in order to assess which ones can be
salvaged. The next step will be to seek funds from the international donor community for the
rebuilding and refurbishing of schools, and to provide several thousand ‘school-in-a-box’ kits and
tents for temporary school rooms.
“It is imperative that children return to school as soon as possible, not just to continue their education,
but to give them a sense of normalcy to their topsy-turvy lives,” said Ms. Jean Gough, UNICEF
Representative for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean.
Current estimates indicate that 20,000 people have taken refuge in temporary shelters. Many of
these living quarters are schools, hotels under construction or other buildings whose structures
appear to have withstood the 150 mph winds and rain that ripped through the island last week. It is
estimated that at least 8,000 of the residents of the shelters are children.
United Nations Children’s Fund
Caribbean Area Office
1st Floor, United Nations House
Marine Gardens, Christ Church
Barbados
Telephone 246 467 6000
Facsimile 246 436 2812
bridgetown@unicef.org
www.unicef.org
MEDIA RELEASE
Two UNICEF staff from Panama are already on the ground in Grenada setting up a unique
psychosocial programme called “Return to Happiness” for children who are presently living in
shelters. This programme uses a child-to-child methodology and puppets to take children through the
process of psychological recovery following catastrophic events.
UNICEF expects to involve children from 6 to 18 years of age in the four-week long workshops. At
least 600 children will participate in the first round.
“We are ready to do what it takes to make sure that these children are protected and their rights to
health and security are respected,” said Gough.
UNICEF is also beginning a public information campaign to remind parents of potential health and
security risks to their children. These messages, which will be posted in all of the 80 shelters around
the country, include tips on the treatment of diarrhoea, the importance of good hygiene and warning
signs of depression.
UNICEF is working with the office of Caribbean Program Coordination of the Pan-American Health
Organization (the regional arm of the World Health Organization) to ensure the purchase and
distribution of vaccines.
UNICEF is also working with the Canadian International Development Agency and Oxfam on water
and sanitation issues and with the International Red Cross on logistics.
“UNICEF is very fortunate to work with such generous and knowledgeable partners,” said Gough.
For further information, please contact:
Lisa McClean, UNICEF Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, Tel: ++ 246) 467 6157 e-mail:
lmccleantrotman@unicef.org
Andy Taitt, UNDP Barbados and Organization of Eastern Caribbean States , Tel: ++ 246) 467 6033
andy.taitt@undp.org
For nearly 60 years UNICEF has been the world’s leader for children. UNICEF has worked in the Caribbean since the
1950s. The Barbados office opened in 1986. We work on the ground in 158 countries to help children survive and thrive
from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for poor countries, UNICEF supports
child health and nutrition, quality basic education for all girls and boys, and the protection of children from violence,
exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and
governments.
Learn more at www.unicef.org
United Nations Children’s Fund
Caribbean Area Office
1st Floor, United Nations House
Marine Gardens, Christ Church
Barbados
Telephone 246 467 6000
Facsimile 246 436 2812
bridgetown@unicef.org
www.unicef.org