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Generous EDP readers thanked for helping Unicef’s Hurricane Irma appeal
On 13 September, children and adults gather around Unicef deputy representative for the Eastern and Caribbean Area Muriel Mafico (in blue top), who is unpacking Unicef educational and recreational supplies for a distribution, at the Antigua Recreation Ground. Picture: Unicef/Moreno Gonza - Credit: © UNICEF/UN0121372/Moreno Gonza
Readers of the Eastern Daily Press have been thanked for their generosity in giving to an appeal set up in response to this month's devastating Hurricane Irma.
The most power hurricane ever formed in the Atlantic left more than 100 people dead and thousands of homes and even entire communities destroyed.
But thanks to the donations of EDP readers and others from around the world, relief work by organisations such as Unicef UK are already well underway.
The British-based children's charity is putting those desperately-needed pounds to use on island such as Dominica, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, supplying families with food, water and shelter.
And this year's hurricane season is not over yet.
Hurricane Maria is now advancing on the same Caribbean islands that took the brunt of Irma's wrath.
Mike Penrose, Unicef UK executive director, said: 'The devastating impact of Hurricane Irma has left millions of children in danger across the Caribbean and now Maria, the third hurricane in two weeks, has torn through Dominica, leaving houses and structures flattened and thousands more children and families at risk.
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'The money we raise here in the UK will provide life-saving aid to meet the immediate needs of children and families and help them recover.
'I would like to thank the Eastern Daily Press and its readers for the commitment and generosity they have shown to Unicef during emergencies – your ongoing support will have a real impact on the lives of children.'
And the scars that such a natural disaster leaves are not only physical.
Unicef is also providing psychological support to children affected by the tragedy on island including Barbuda.
Khin-Sandi Lwin, Unicef's representative for the eastern Caribbean, said: 'These children witnessed a horrific hurricane that tore their homes away, destroyed their schools and left the island they called home totally in tatters.
'They will need lots of help to deal with the trauma associated with those experiences.
'This programme is aimed at starting that process.'
n To find out more about the work Unicef UK is doing, or to donate to the appeal, visit unicef.uk/edp