Geneva - UNICEF, the United Nations children's agency, is to airlift 27 tonnes of medical and other relief supplies to Turkey. It will also begin studying the effects of the earthquake on women and children.
In a statement yesterday, the agency expressed concern that trauma experienced by parents would have a great impact on youth and said it would develop a "long-term plan for helping the children of Turkey cope with the emotional impact of the disaster".
"A child's first reaction - fear - will quickly fade," said Ms Ingrid Leth, a UNICEF clinical child psychologist. "This may give adults the impression that the children are not affected. However, this is not the case."
UNICEF's team of five experts, who are to gather in Turkey over the weekend to begin a week-long initial assessment, comprises specialists in health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and social and psychological needs.
The New York-based agency will also supply some three million water purification tablets, 2,500 rolls of plastic sheeting to provide shelter for thousands of homeless families, 50 huge portable water tanks and 10,000 smaller water containers, as well as cooking utensils and bedding.
