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icef
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Replacingpassengerswithaid
Norwegian’s latestdestinationmaybemoreunusual thanmost
–but theplane ispackedwithemergencysupplies
NorwegianandUNICEFhavebeenworking together for children since2007. As a
SignaturePartner toUNICEF,Norwegian supports theorganisation’sworkgiving
children thebest possible start in life, anda safeandhappychildhood.
WORDS: MERETE AGERBAK-JENSEN, PHOTO: BINDRA/UNICEF
L
ater thismonth,
Norwegianplans tofly to
theCentral African
Republic (CAR) with
UNICEF as co-pilot. Every
part of theplane shouldbefilledwith
relief tohelp those affectedby thecivil
war, whichhas forcedmore than
500,000people toflee their homes and
meant 2.3millionchildren are inneedof
immediate assistance.
“Themeaningless violencehas to
stop, and thechildren inCARmust be
protected from it. I’m very grateful that
our long-termpartnerNorwegianwill
use their core asset – airplanes – as a
generous contribution for thechildren,”
saysUNICEFNorway’s executivedirector
BerntGApeland. “Air transportof supplies
is crucial due todamaged infrastructure
combinedwith the rainy season.”
Themany children recruited as child
soldiers are amajor concern for UNICEF.
But results lately arehighly encouraging.
Almost 1,400child soldiers havebeen
released so far this year.
“UNICEF speaks tocommanders on
both sides about the responsibility
of themilitary toprotect civilians,
including children,” says Apeland. “My
colleaguesworkwith them to redefine
whoqualifies as a child.Many believe
that a child is under five years of age.
This process takes careful diplomacy,
but it’swortheveryminute.”
UNICEF is thedifferencebetween
life anddeath for several hundred
thousand internally displacedpeople.
UNICEF provides food,medicines,
shelter, water and education so the
children inCAR can keep their dreams
for the future alive. “I want tobe a
midwife so I canbe nearwomen in the
hospital,” saysNoudilem, four. She lives
in the Saint Sauveur displacement site
in the capital Bangui.
Still, the situation inCAR is one
of the forgotten crises in theworld,
and the relief effort is severely
underfunded. So far in 2014, UNICEF
has receivedonly 37 per cent of the
targeted amount of US$81million
(NOK501.6m) toprovide assistance for
children andwomen. Thus the joint
Norwegian andUNICEF campaignwill
make a significant difference.
UNICEFNorway andNorwegian invite
all passengers to join the “Fill up a
plane” campaign. Our goal is that every
seat, every seat pocket, every cabin
compartment, every spot of cargo
space is filledwithmedicines andother
life-saving supplies. Please helpus fill
up theplane!
Norwegian subscriberscandonateby
textingFLY to2040 (NOK200) or youcan
follow thecountdown to take-off on the
NorwegianandEnglish-languagepages
unicef.no/Norwegian, unicef.no/fly
UNICEFhopes to
fulfil four-year-old
Noudilem’swish tobe
amidwifewhen she
growsupbyproviding
education in the
camps for internally
displacedpeople
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