Page 37 - msc_sustainability_report_2016

HUMANITARIAN AID

Expressing solidarity towards populations and countries shortage, saving lives and protecting human dignity. MSC’s partnership with UNICEF Project in Malawi – Nutrition emergency relief
affected by famine, war and epidemics as well as Since July 2009, MSC has joined efforts with UNICEF MSC Cruises has been partnering with UNICEF In 2015, Malawi experienced a devastating flooding,
towards victims of natural disasters represents a to achieve positive changes at the field level for thou- through the “Get on Board for Children” initiative, which was considered as one of the worst food
fundamental moral engagement for MSC. sands of children and their families across the world. collecting donations from guests, selling UNICEF insecurity crisis in over a decade in Southern Africa,
In this respect, MSC is proud to actively contribute The projects supported by MSC range from educational products on board MSC Cruises’ vessels, providing with 3.5 million Malawian children being affected in
to several emergency and disaster relief initiatives initiatives for the vulnerable children of Brazilian logisticfacilities and increasing awareness of UNICEF’s the country’s 28 districts.
both through independent actions and through “favela” shanty towns to projects combatting malaria work worldwide, through advocacy campaigns and UNICEF’s response to help reducing child mortality
strategic partnerships with specialised international across Africa and programmes treating severe acute integrated initiatives, such as the “edutainment rates resulting from severe acute malnutrition and
actors, such as the International Committee of the Red child malnutrition in crisis and emergency situations in activities” specifically designed for children and combat the food crisis in that region included the
Cross (ICRC) and United Nations Specialized Agencies, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia and Malawi. families. In 2016, more than 250,000 youngsters, aged supply of life-saving therapeutic milk and Ready-to-
Programmes and Funds, including the World Food Some of these initiatives are promoted on board of between 5 and 17, took part in UNICEF activities, Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF). The severe acute mal-
Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s MSC Cruises’ vessels and are generously supported becoming junior UNICEF goodwill ambassadors. nutrition is treated using therapeutic milk and RUTF
Fund (UNICEF). by their guests through spontaneous donations. The partnership has its own motivational message since ordinary foods can be ineffective or carry risks.
MSC supports rapid humanitarian response, in line An MSC for UNICEF field visit, led by Mr. Pierfrancesco “Together we can make a difference” and its own MSC joined forces with UNICEF in Malawi, providing
with international humanitarian laws, by transporting Vago, Executive Chairman MSC Cruises, was song “I Can Believe – MSC for UNICEF”, by an Italian logistics assistance and playing a strategic role in
emergency humanitarian aid cargoes such as medical conducted in April 2016 to assess the impact of children’s choir. The song provides a soundtrack to delivering these vital products to the affected
equipment and food supplies, effectively contributing MSC’s actions in the field. all UNICEF awareness-raising efforts on MSC Cruises population. MSC plans to renew its commitment to
to alleviate poverty in the short term, addressing food vessels, including the MSC for UNICEF kids parade UNICEF in Malawi in 2017 and continue the treatment
during the UNICEF Day, that forms part of every cruise. and the rehabilitation of children affected by severe
Since the beginning of its partnership, MSC Cruises’ acute malnutrition throughout the country.
guests have contributed to a total of EUR 6,250,897.
Mr. Pierfrancesco Vago,
Executive Chairman
MSC Cruises, visited
the UNICEF facilities MSC’s partnership with Mercy Ships
in Malawi in March 2016 Since 2011, MSC supports the work of Mercy Ships, a
MSC IMPACT
non-profit medical organisation, which uses hospital
Since 2015, more than 6,000 children vessels to deliver free world-class health services to
have been treated in Somalia, vulnerable populations living in the developing world.
over 9,000 respectively in South Sudan MSC’s contribution involves the provision of free
and Ethiopia. transportation of medical equipment, which helps
The lives of nearly 41,543 children and Mercy Ships to re-allocate a significant component of
their families in Malawi have been its logistics budget to other important life-changing
positively impacted between 2015 and undertakings. MSC’s commitment to Mercy Ship will
2016. Between 2015 and 2016, some be further enhanced in the next years.
2,037 million sachets of Ready-to-Use
Therapeutic Foods and around 72,000
sachets of F-75 Therapeutic milk were
delivered to children in Malawi.

36 SOCIAL INCLUSIVE APPROACH MSC SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2016 37