TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2017 /CNW/ - UNICEF Canada's President and CEO David Morley will be joining the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, to visit Canadian-support Makani centres in Jordan and is available for comment on the ongoing refugee crisis and humanitarian response across the region. They will also be joined by UNICEF's Middle East and North Africa Humanitarian Affairs Chief Genevieve Boutin, a Canadian, who can speak with French media about the crisis. 

On March 15, the Syrian conflict will enter its seventh year. The crisis continues to have a devastating impact on children, including six million children inside Syria and more than 2.3 million refugee children across the region who are in urgent need of support. Currently, 1.7 million Syrian children are out of school. Last year, there were 2,300 verified reports of grave violations against children in Syria.

Based on direct interaction with displaced Syrian children and families in Jordan, David Morley can comment on UNICEF's work to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, life-saving immunizations, education and psychosocial support to children who have lived through almost six years of deadly violence.

He can also comment on the impact of Canada's contribution to response efforts, including the $31.8 million Syrian Emergency Relief Fund generously donated by the Government of Canada in support of UNICEF's work, allowing UNICEF to help the most vulnerable and the hardest to reach Syrian children with critical immunizations, life-saving support, education and protection from violence in Jordan and Syria.

In 2017, UNICEF has appealed for $1.4 billion to support children inside Syria and those living as refugees in neighbouring countries. Learn more about UNICEF's response to the Syrian crisis at http://www.unicef.ca/en/children-syria-canadas-response.

David Morley has more than 30 years of experience advancing children's rights and sustainable development on the world stage, and has had leadership roles in a number of global responses to humanitarian crises over the last two decades.

About UNICEF

UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. We work tirelessly to help children and their families, doing whatever it takes to ensure children survive. We provide children with healthcare and immunization, clean water, nutrition and food security, education, emergency relief and more.

UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations and helps children regardless of race, religion or politics. As part of the UN, we are active in over 190 countries - more than any other organization. Our determination and our reach are unparalleled. Because nowhere is too far to go to help a child survive. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca. For updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook or visit unicef.ca

SOURCE UNICEF Canada

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