U.N. Appeal For Children

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 46, 14 May 1948, Page 5

U.N. Appeal For Children

Facts Concerning The 4 Distribution 01 Funds

Children by the millions are on the verge of starvation today in Europe and Asia. It is estimated that one half of the entire child population of the world are not getting enough to eat, enough medical care, enough clothing, enough of the things that children everywhere deserve. All Over the world, the fate of these children hangs on the success of the United Nations Appeal for Children.

This Appeal for Children is the first official world-wide appeal of its kind. It originated in, and is being sponsored by, the United Nations and it has the support of every member nation of that international organisation for peace and security. The United Nations offers everybody everywhere a chance to share in the most important task in the world today. The goal of the appeal is a contribution of one day’s effort —in terms of wages, salary or profits—from every citizen.

The funds will be spent only through recognised relief agencies already in operation, and mostly through the International Children’s Emergency Fund, an organisation set up by the'United Nations to take over and expand the work of child relief previously carried out, on an international basis, by UNRRA. New Zealand is a member of the 26-nation executive board administering .this organisation, which has already started work in distressed countries.

Food, medical supplies and clothing are critically short. Because of last year’s abnormal winter and the summer drought,-the yield of breadgrain crops, potatoes, fodder and pasture is. nearly everywhere below normal.

Slaughter of cattle and livestock has drastically curtailed supplies of milk, fats and meats, on which the health of children and nursing and expectant mothers depends. Few countries can import enough of these foods, because of high costs and lack of foreign exchange.

The children of countries which were victims of 1 aggression will be high on the priority list. But the principles laid down by the United Nations require help to go to the children who need it most—without discrimination because of race, creed, nationality or political belief.