New Zealanders have contributed nearly $1 million towards Save the Children's relief effort in Haiti

12 April 2010 – Three months after the Haiti quake, New Zealanders have opened their hearts and their wallets to contribute more than $960,000 towards Save the Children’s Haiti Emergency response.

“The generosity of New Zealanders has enabled our organisation to reach more than 550,000 people – at least 240,000 of them children. And three months on children are still receiving much-needed aid,” says Save the Children New Zealand Chief Executive Liz Gibbs.

Over the last three months, Save the Children has:

• Distributed food to more than 250,000 people
• Delivered shelter materials to 7,500 households
• Provided access to clean water and sanitation facilities to more than 221,000 people
• Cared for more than 23,000 children and adults through clinics and health teams
• Provided support for thousands of mothers on how to nourish and care for their babies in very difficult times and making sure that those who have special nutritional needs (i.e., malnourished children or orphaned children) are carefully followed and given therapeutic foods.
• Provided classroom tents and supplies so that 41 schools could reopen.
• Established 35 Child Friendly Spaces in Port-au-Prince and Jacmel – so children can play and be safe.

Save the Children continues to focus on providing food, shelter, clean water and health care. The agency is also working with the Haiti government to provide education and address child labour and trafficking issues.

“Children are still living in crowded camps and are highly vulnerable and the education system lies in ruins. We are still working around clock to provide assistance,” says Gibbs.

Save the Children has released a new report called “Helping Haiti’s Children” that provides details of the relief effort so far as well as the future threats for children.

For further information or a copy of the report, please contact Nicole Were, Communications Advisor, Save the Children New Zealand, nicole.were@savethechildren.org.nz / 04 381 7573 / 029 200 9348.