Samoa will benefit from an agreement signed between the government of Japan and the United Nations Children's Fund (U.N.I.C.E.F.) to support the Pacific region’s COVID-19 response and help protect children from its impacts.

Japan contributed US$2 million (T$5million) to support efforts by U.N.I.C.E.F. in strengthening community engagement.

Other areas include provision of critical medical and water, sanitation and hygiene supplies, health care, education - including early childhood - and child protection services as well as research on the impact of this global crisis on women and children.

“With this funding support, U.N.I.C.E.F. will work closely with Pacific Island governments, including the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, to improve essential services and engage with communities to prevent and respond to COVID-19,” reads a statement from UNICEF.

A representative of U.N.I.C.E.F. Pacific, Sheldon Yett said that combating a global pandemic like COVID-19 cannot be achieved alone.

“We thank the Government of Japan for this support and together with governments, partners and communities, we will ensure that emergency resources and services reach those Pacific families, including more than one million children in the Pacific, to both prevent and respond to this deadly virus,” he added.

U.N.I.C.E.F. is currently working with Pacific Island governments, communities and partners to ensure that essential support is provided, and resources are available to protect communities, including children, against the threat of COVID-19 in the region.

“The assistance from this grant will be delivered to Pacific Island countries according to their specific preparedness and response needs.”

U.N.I.C.E.F. works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.