Providing humanitarian aid to women and children

The intensity and number of international emergencies has greatly increased in recent years, prompting all or most humanitarian agencies to upgrade their activities to relieve the suffering of people. In these difficult circumstances, children represent the largest group of extremely vulnerable people, and many become traumatized, injured and abused by the horrors around them. Women too can be extremely vulnerable in emergency situations.

In 1994 there were more than 19 million refugees, primarily women and children, who were receiving food, shelter, medical aid, education and repatriation assistance.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) special responsibility is to ensure that the basic needs of children and their mothers are met, lending itself to reducing their vulnerability to the impact of emergencies. In 1993, UNICEF was involved in 64 emergency operations globally, continuing an upward trend since 1990, when it assisted 29 countries; this number rose to 50 in 1991, and to 54 in 1992. In 1993, Africa remained the continent in greatest need and was afforded highest priority. Emergency assistance was provided for continuing emergencies or conflicts in Somalia, Angola, Liberia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Mozambique, growing crises in Zaire, Togo, Congo, Ivory Coast and Ghana, and for severe conflicts in Rwanda and Burundi. Significant successes included 75% measles vaccination coverage in Somalia, and the distribution and monitoring of seeds and tools for the resettlement of refugees and displaced persons went ahead in Mozambique, among others. Emergency assistance in Asia focused on providing immediate response to natural disasters such as earthquakes in India, floods and landslides in Nepal, and a volcanic eruption in the Philippines, among others. In Europe, the focus is still on the former Yugoslavia. In the Americas and the Caribbean, assistance was provided for the women and children of Haiti (primary health care, immunization service, water supply and sanitation), those affected by floods and landslides in Ecuador, and those victimized by a tropical storm in Cuba and Honduras.

Using drawing, music and drama, Radda Barnen in cooperation with UNICEF have helped in the rehabilitation of hundreds of traumatized Sudanese children.

In 1993, many other humanitarian governmental programmes and NGOs participated in the efforts of the international community to relieve the suffering of child victims.