24 January 2014- The French city of Puteaux, known as the “City Friend of Children,” donated €10,000 to victims of Typhoon Yolanda through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Upon the initiative of the Communal Council of Children of Puteaux, a simple turnover ceremony was held at the Puteaux City Hall on January 15. Present were Puteaux Mayor  Joëlle Ceccaldi-Raynaud; the Haitian Consul in Paris Vilbert Belizaire; UNICEF France Vice President François Leonelli; and UNICEF Departmental President Maïthé Meric. Philippine Ambassador to France Cristina Ortega represented the Philippine Government in the turnover ceremony.

Ambassador Ortega stayed on for the open forum with the children. She thanked the children for their generosity and empathy and reminded them of their crucial role as future leaders. The UNICEF representatives likewise took the opportunity to sensitize the children of the importance of international solidarity in health, education, and the rights of the child.

Puteaux is located in the western suburbs of Paris with a population of 45,000. It joins the ranks of the cities of Paris, Lyon, Lille, Toulouse, Marseille, Nice, and many others, which provided humanitarian assistance to the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda. END