High level Unicef team for meet on Syria

Geneva, Jan 13: The UN Children's Fund (Unicef) has said that a high level delegation will participate in the 2nd International Donors Conference to support the Syrian people, scheduled to be held in Kuwait Jan 15.

The Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) quoted Unicef spokesperson for the Middle East and North Africa, Juliet Toma, as saying that the delegation will include Deputy Executive Director for External Affairs, Yoka Brandt, Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa, Maria Calivis and the director for the agency's emergency headquarters in New York.

Toma added that the humanitarian situation in Syria and neighbouring countries was deteriorating, especially after the number of those affected reached more than nine million Syrians of which at least half are children.

The spokeswoman explained that the conference aims to mobilise international support for the humanitarian needs of millions of Syrians who are living in critical conditions, including the lack of financial resources needed to cover Unicef's activities.

Toma noted that Unicef was providing children with water, health services and vaccines against various diseases.

"Unicef has worked to register more than 570,000 children in schools to get good education," Toma said, adding that "psychological and social support is ongoing for 870,000 children".

She noted that Unicef needed around $835 million to continue its services in 2014.

IANS