60 water storage bladders, 1,500 jerry cans and 868 hygiene kits supplied by UNICEF have arrived in Padang, Indonesia for distribution to families affected by the earthquake. These are the first of UNICEF's initial supplies intended to support up to 50,000 households, with the remainder expected to arrive in West Sumatra imminently.

The first three school tents were also erected in Padang city on Sunday, ahead of a possible return to school today. This follows a call by the Governor of Padang for children to try and go back to classes wherever possible. A further batch of some 250 school tents are en route from Jakarta and should be in Padang shortly. "Every one of those children is acutely vulnerable to potential disease, lack of shelter, disruption to education, and the traumatic effects of living through such an experience," said UNICEF Country Representative in Indonesia, Kiwi, Angela Kearney.

"Children are always the most affected by emergencies, and it is critical that they have access to clean water, and are protected from the threat of diarrhoeal diseases, acute respiratory infections and outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, polio and tetanus," said Ms. Kearney. "At the same time, we must ensure that other services such as education are re-started as soon as possible, to help children regain a sense of normalcy in the aftermath of this tragedy."

In responding to this emergency UNICEF has taken on the role of lead agency in health, nutrition, education, water/sanitation/hygiene and child protection.