THE HAGUE--The TUI Care Foundation of the European airline TUI and UNICEF committed to a partnership on Friday to assist with emergency relief after disasters and to improve access to education.
TUI Care Foundation supports UNICEF’s cause to advocate children’s rights and finds it important that children and their families receive assistance in disaster situations such as hurricanes and earthquakes, also if it involves families at a vacation destination at the time of a disaster.
UNICEF works in 190 countries and is present to provide assistance directly before, during and after a disaster. “That is why TUI Care Foundation chose to support UNICEF within its TUI Future Fund activities, which offer assistance to children and youngsters in need after a disaster,” TUI stated in a press release on Friday.
“Children are the most vulnerable group and they are hit hard when a disaster happens. They run the most risk of becoming a victim of violence, abuse, illness and neglect. In the worst scenarios, children are robbed of their basic needs in health and education with devastating consequences for their future and that of their country,” said Chairman of the Board of Trustees of TUI Care Foundation Thomas Ellerbeck.
Ellerbeck said the foundation is proud to support UNICEF and its worldwide emergency assistance programme to help build a better future for children. UNICEF Netherlands Director Suzanne Laszlo said she was happy that TUI Care Foundation supported her organisation’s cause to make things better for the children.
“Every child has the right to grow up, to feel healthy and to develop in safe surroundings. Our joint efforts will help to protect the most vulnerable children,” said Laszlo. TUI Care Foundation will also support UNICEF’s educational programmes to assist disadvantaged children so they can attend school.
Education and emergency assistance are closely connected. UNICEF figures show that almost one quarter of the children live in countries that are affected by a conflict or disaster. “For children in emergency situations, education can be a determining factor or even save their life. Schools offer children a stable and protected environment,” it was stated in the release.
Even though education is the key to economic growth, reduction of poverty and inequality, and promotes peace and stability, education is often on the back burner in a disaster area: schools close first during a crisis and many times are the last ones to be repaired.
UNICEF has been providing assistance in St. Maarten since Hurricane Irma, among other things, with psychological assistance at schools.
