The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated a quantity of supplies to schoolchildren in Anguilla following the onslaught of Hurricane Irma on Wednesday, September 6, 2017.
The school kits, and other supplies, were distributed on Wednesday this week at the island’s various schools. The two UNICEF representatives making the presentations were Ms. Denise Robateau, who is based in Anguilla, and Mr. Hussein Moursel who is based in Lebanon, but came to Anguilla and other Eastern Caribbean islands as part of the UNICEF initiative.
“I a supporting the work here in Anguilla for UNICEF, Ms. Robateau told The Anguillian. “As part of our disaster response, post Hurricane Irma, UNICEF has been on the ground right after. Today we are distributing some supplies. The children in the schools are receiving recreational kits and we are also here to set up tents in support of safe, child friendly schools. Our presentations are in consultation with the Department of Education and based on the request from the Government of Anguilla. We are supporting the reopening of schools so that children can regain a sense of normalcy as it relates to education.”
Anguilla’s Education Officer for Pre/Primary Education, Susan Smith, commented: “The Ministry and Department of Education are grateful for the generosity of UNICEF for providing the supplies to our students. As we all know, our schools were damaged by the passage of Hurricane Irma and these supplies will go a long way to assist our children in gaining their education.”
Mrs. Smith added: “The supplies are for all the primary schools, the secondary school and the special needs centres. We also have tents for some of the schools – Orealia Kelly School, Valley School and the Sports Department. We should be receiving some additional tents in the near future to distribute to the other schools. The Sports Department will also receive a tent along with recreational kits.”
