UNICEF expands relief efforts in Latin America and Caribbean

To help children and families affected by the series of natural disasters that have devastated countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has announced that it has scaled up its humanitarian response the region.

"Children in Latin America and the Caribbean have faced several natural disasters of epic proportions in September," said Grant Leaity, UNICEF Deputy Director of Emergency Programmes.

"With four successive hurricanes, including Hurricane Irma, the largest ever recorded over the Atlantic, and two major earthquakes in Mexico, the past few weeks have been relentless," he added.

In the past month, four major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher have churned through the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean. Hurricanes Irma, Jose, Katia and Maria caused major damage to island nations in the Caribbean, as well as continental North and Central America, devastating the lives of millions of people and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless and displaced.

Since two earthquakes 12 days apart caused widespread damage and destruction in central Mexico, the region has experienced over 4,000 aftershocks, including a 6.1 magnitude quake as recently as 23rd September. Up to seven million children live in the affected areas and thousands have been left homeless, with no access to basic services.

Across the region, UNICEF has urgently scaled up its "emergency response" to reach vulnerable children with protection services, water, sanitation and hygiene, health and education initiatives.

"It’s absolutely vital that children who have lived through these traumatic events get the psychosocial support they need," said UNICEF Mexico Ambassador Thalia, who visited UNICEF operations centre this week to learn more about UNICEF’s response.

In Mexico, UNICEF is working with its partners in earthquake-affected areas to establish temporary schools, promote school safety guidelines, train teachers in psychosocial support, and distribute education supplies and early childhood development kits to teachers and caregivers.