Media Section Update on China

Update on China emergency

23 May 2008

For internal use only

1) Key messages

2) Major developments & UNICEF actions (sitrep highlights)

3) UNICEF statement from Executive Director

4) Facts on China earthquake

5) Q&A on China earthquake, Beijing Olympics

N.B. We remind you thatwhile UNICEF is and will be assisting the Government of China in ensuring the survival, development and protection of children affected by the Sichuan earthquake, we will not be launching a public appeal for funds from private sector donors, nor appealing for funds from Governments.

National Committees can, however, carry information on their websites saying that UNICEF is supporting the humanitarian efforts in China by providing shelter materials and blankets. National Committees can also provide on their websites a mechanism for people wanting to donate to be able to do so. Please do not issue any newspaper, radio, television or new-media ads directly appealing for funds for this emergency. Should a partner company or major donor approach you wishing to donate funds, you can accept the donation but there should be no publicity around it.

1) Key Messages

UNICEF is working in close collaboration with the Government of China to respond to the needs of children in the earthquake-affected areas. Representatives from our office in Beijing are currently on a mission to assess the situation of children in the hardest struck area of Sichuan, where many children have been orphaned or separated from their parents and families.

UNICEF expects to assist the government with technical expertise in child protection and education activities - key areas identified by UNICEF and the Government of China. The details of this collaboration are being worked out but we know that the psychosocial situation of children affected by the earthquake is high on the government’s agenda. In education, UNICEF will encourage the government to ensure that new schools are built using a “child-friendly schools” model in which schools are safe for children, provide them with quality education, cater for their active lives with lots of open space and tools and equipment for growth and development, and provide them with safe water and separate sanitation facilities for girls and boys. UNICEF will not be directly involved in school building or any other forms of construction activities.

UNICEF’s work in China goes back to the period between 1947 and 1951 when the children’s agency provided China with emergency services, food and nutrition, health and hygiene training during and after the Revolutionary War. In 1979, UNICEF officially began its cooperation with the Government of China to support child health and nutrition, safe water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation and AIDS. The agency has traditionally provided technical expertise on children, and in the current emergency will be procuring and shipping in the tents and school supplies that will help provide children with shelter and ensure that their education needs are met.

2) Major Developments

UN and UNICEF

UNICEF Representative, in her capacity as UN Disaster Management Team Chair, jointly with the UN resident coordinator, will accompany the SG to the earthquake affected areas on May 24.
SG is paying a one day visit to the earthquake zone following his Myanmar visit. He will arrive in Chengdu on May 24.
The child protection assessment mission in Sichuan began on the 22nd and is underway. We should have a report on their findings with a video news story on Tuesday, the 27th of May.

General

The quake death toll reached 55239, with 281066 injured and 24949 were missing. (as of 10 am, 23 May)
The government on Thursday again called on the international community to provide tents to quake-hit Sichuan province, saying about 3.3 million are needed to house nearly 5 million people displaced by the quake. About 400,000 tents have been sent to quake-hit areas but they are far from enough.
Water supply has been restored in all the county seats affected in the quake except Wenchuan and BeichuanCounties.
The supply of food and other goods in Sichuan province is stable now and business is expected to recover soon.
The Government has been calming down public worries about the price of pork in China. Sichuan is a major pork-supplying province, accounting for about 10 percent of the country's total. The worst quake-hit areas, however, are in the mountains and not significant in the supply chain.
The impact of the earthquake on GDP growth and consumer price index (CPI) is expected to be relatively low. Sichuan accounts for 4 percent of China’s GDP, and the most severely hit areas account for only 0.5 percent of GDP.
Sichuan provincial Centers for Disease Control (CDC) made an official announcement that all efforts will be made to prevent outbreaks of HIV/AIDS, and to ensure adequate treatment services and medication.

UNICEF Response

Shelter and Non-Food Relief Items

In-kind donations by IKEA, facilitated by UNICEF, will be provided directly to Ministry of Education.
Tents, quilts, calcium hypochlorite, sleeping bags, clothing package for girls and boys, and student and teacher kits are being procured. 400 tents have been delivered by May 19. For details see Supply and Logistics section below.

Health and Nutrition

UNICEF has prioritized the requests received so far and come to a list for international and local procurement. This list has been sent to MOFCOM for approval.

WES

Office of National Patriotic Health Campaign Committee requested for water disinfectant equipment, rapid test equipment and reagents for water quality analysis, as well as mobile sanitary latrines, etc. UNICEF is reviewing this request.
Existing Requests for water-related supply have been prioritized and integrated with H&N procurement list that was sent to MOFCOM for approval.

Protection and Psycho-Social Support

In response to media requests, UNICEF has delivered a statement on its position on adoption.

Education

Ministry of Education requested tents, sports goods, and hygiene facilities like soap, disinfectants, wet tissue, and simple facilities for hand washing.

Communication

A new video story is being developed on psychosocial support and our cameraman is working with the UNICEF-government mission today and over the weekend.
Plans are underway to organize a media photo/interview opportunity at the end of the current psycho-social support mission on Tuesday 27th May.

Inter-Agency Collaboration and Key Partnerships

As the chair of UNDMT, UNICEF China is coordinating closely all emergency-related activities with UN agencies as well as government counterparts.
The UN HIV/AIDS Emergency Task Team is working with local networks (PLWHAs) for people living with HIV/AIDS to: 1) find patients; 2) assess needs; and 3) find solutions. Electronic newsletters and mobile phone communications are being used.

Supply and Logistics

In Sichuan, 400 tents, 20,000 quilts, 200 tonnes of water bleaching powder (Calcium Hypochlorite) has been delivered.
By this Monday, 4,000 sleeping bags will be distributed. Soon to be distributed are 50,000 clothing packages for girls.
By mid-June we will have delivered 60,000 student kits (There is a kit for each child. Contains: Pencils, pens, ruler, backpack, sharpener, crayons, exercise books, erasers, pencil bag, dictionary) and 2,000 teacher kits containing blackboard, eraser, pens, ruler, tape, chalk, register.)

3) Statement by ED on May 15

NEW YORK, 15 May 2008 - UNICEF is working closely with the Government and the people of China to assist suffering children in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck Sichuan province on 12 May. Students were prominent among the victims of the quake, which struck during school hours and resulted in the collapse of a number of school buildings.

UNICEF is responding to a request from the Government of China for specific life-saving supplies to assist the national relief effort. Tents, blankets and school kits have already been procured by UNICEF and will start to arrive in affected areas within the next 48 hours. The procurement of health, water and sanitation materials is also underway and these supplies will be dispatched to China as soon as possible.

UNICEF stands ready to further assist, as China’s national disaster relief efforts continue.

4) Facts on China Earthquake (Gov. Source)

The Quake: magnitude 7.9 by the U.S. Geological Survey and 8.0 by Chinese officials.

Disaster area population: 20 million

Homeless: 5 million

Schoolrooms destroyed: 6,898

Orphans: 4,000

Tents needed: 3.3 million

Animals killed: 12.5 million

Company losses: 67 billion yuan (US$9.5 billion; EUR 6.04 billion)

Reconstruction: 70 billion yuan (US$10 billion; EUR 6.35 billion) fund set up by government

5) Q&A on China Earthquake, Beijing Olympics, Tibet

23 May 2008

Q. What is doing for the earthquake in China?

A. We are working closely with the government in a variety of technical roles. We have just come back from a mission with the government to assess the number of children separated from their parents or orphaned, so we can begin the reunification process. In addition, weare also shipping in supplies, including tents, blankets, quilts, water purification powder, tens of thousands of school kits and teachers kits. We stand ready to assist in any way we can.

Q. Is UNICEF fundraising for China?

There has been a huge wave of donations for China from individuals and from private companies, without any appeal from our National Committees. In addition, last Friday, the Secretary-General announced that $8 million in emergency funds have been allocated for China’s needs. UNICEF and the entire UN system are ready to help in any way with can.

Q&A related to Beijing Olympics and UNICEF's role.

Q: Why is UNICEF in China?

There are a number of reasons why UNICEF is working in China. First, UNICEF’s cooperation does help to make a difference for the poorest and most vulnerable children in China. Past history shows that UNICEF’s relatively small investments have time and again succeeded in leveraging large scale investments which have brought about important results for children. Second, the problems affecting children in China are huge in terms of absolute numbers. If the world is serious about realizing the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, then China’s sheer weight of population makes it imperative for UNICEF and other UN agencies to work in China and help to develop approaches for tackling these challenges. To give an example, child mortality in China is now down to about 20 per thousand live births but this means that China is still among the top countries in the world in terms of absolute numbers of child deaths. Although HIV prevalence is .05 percent, China is estimated to have the second largest number of infections in Asia at 700,000. Third, UNICEF’s mission includes protecting the most vulnerable, and China’s rapid economic growth has widened disparities that have a significant impact on children. For instance, the child mortality rate in the west and north of China is 3 – 7 times higher than eastern coastal regions.

Q: The Chinese Government’s human rights record is constantly criticized throughout the world. Shouldn’t UNICEF be more vocal about child rights in China?

UNICEF has been working cooperatively with the Government of China for almost thirty years. During this time significant advances have occurred for hundreds of millions of children as a result. When we hear of violations of the rights of children, from whatever source, we take up the matter with the relevant government authorities.

Q: Are you attending the Beijing Olympics?

I may. UNICEF China has adopted children’s participation in sporting activity as a key strategy in a number of its programmes in China; such as HIV/AIDS, education and child protection. As the world’s largest sporting event, the Olympics provides an excellent opportunity for advocacy on issues of inclusion, equality and participation related to these programmes. In addition, Ms. Ann Veneman, the Executive Director of UNICEF has been invited to the Olympics by the International Olympic Committee. The Government of China will also welcome her to make an official visit at this time to discuss the joint UNICEF and Government programme for children (dates and schedule are yet to be finalized). During this visit we expect that Ms. Veneman will meet with senior Government leaders and counterparts.

Q: Is UNICEF playing a role in 2008 Beijing Olympics?

UNICEF China has a long-term programme in support of children living with HIV and AIDS. We are planning to use the unique opportunity of the Olympics to advocate for the rights of these children. The global attention paid to the event, Olympic values and the UNICEF mandate together offer a unique opportunity to reduce stigma and promote the rights of children affected by HIV and AIDS.UNICEF and its partners will organize a high-profile event where children affected by HIV and AIDS will meet with senior Chinese Government officials, UNICEF staff as well as with ex-Olympic medalists and celebrities. Afterwards, the children will take part in participatory learning activities with ex-Olympic medalists.

Q: What role is UNICEF playing in the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics?

The UNICEF China Office has provided the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) pictures of children all over the world, which will appear in a two-minute collage during the opening ceremony. The purpose of our collaboration with BOCOG on this project is to ensure that children of diverse countries and cultures are represented. There will be no UNICEF branding during the ceremony, but we think it will be a chance to help the world to reflect on its duties toward children.

Q: What is the UNICEF position on the recent unrest in Tibet?

Under the circumstances it is very difficult for UNICEF-China to get detailed information on the recent unrest in Tibet. Naturally UNICEF-China is concerned that children may be affected, and if in fact they were, whether they are children of Tibetan or Han origin, we certainly would raise our concerns to the relevant authorities for appropriate action to be taken. We are trying to monitor the situation as best we can, but access to Tibet is still limited.

Q: What is UNICEF doing in Tibet?

UNICEF works in 15 of the poorest counties in Tibet, primarily in maternal and child health, immunization and basic education. Tibet is one of the poorest regions of China and UNICEF has been working with local government partners there since the 1980's. Much progress has been realized for Tibetan children and women over the past two decades. According to Ministry of Health data since 1990 the under-five child death rate has been dramatically reduced from 127 to 39 per thousand live births for Tibet. Though this figure is still much higher than the national average (around 19), it suggests that great progress has been made in reducing deaths from communicable diseases. Many challenges remain, because of poverty, poor access, and generally low status of education. A major focus of our program is building capacity amongst service providers (teachers, local nurses, doctors and health workers)

Q: What is UNICEF’s response to reports that young athletes are being forced to train beyond their limits for Olympic competition?

In many countries around the world children are enrolled in physically demanding training programmes in sports, dance, music and the like. From time to time reports about intense sports development academies employing harmful training regimes with young children have come out in the news-media. In principle anything that forces a child into physically or emotionally damaging activities against his or her will is a violation of the child’s rights, and we do not condone such activity. UNICEF does not have authoritative information about this practice and is not currently in a position to gather data about it.

Q: Much has been made of the skewed sex ratio at birth in favor of males in China, and the fact that this indicates pre-term sex selection and female fetus abortion. What is UNICEF doing about this problem?

We are acutely aware of this challenging problem. This has to do with traditional societal preferences for male children – a cultural attitude that is not limited to China alone. The Chinese Government is also aware of the implications and has banned all efforts to determine the sex of an unborn child. UNICEF together with the All China Women’s Federation launched an intensive media and advocacy campaign in Hainan province that produced dramatic results. The joint five-year programme reduced the sex ratio gap in one county from 133 boys to every 100 girls to 108 boys to every 100 girls. At the same time girls’ school enrollment and attendance rates improved. We are trying to promote the replication of similar approaches to other parts of the country

Q: There are many reports about serious child labour problems in China. What is the extent of this problem and how is UNICEF responding?