UNICEF IN CROATIA HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE ON UNICEF DAY

( Editorial: --> 9057 ) ZAGREB, Dec 17 (Hina) - UNICEF representatives in Croatia on Wednesday held a press conference in Zagreb on the occasion of UNICEF Day. UNICEF began its activity in Croatia in 1991 with the aim to protect children from war. According to Ute Deseniss-Gros, head of the UNICEF office for Croatia, one of the priorities was to ensure quality food for children in war-endangered areas, in order to prevent starvation. In cooperation with the Croatian Ministry of Health, the UNICEF is participating in several projects, primarily in fighting disorders caused by lack of proper nourishment, to which this year's UNICEF Day is dedicated. Another important project is promotion of breast-feeding. It was said today that in 1990 Croatia and the UNICEF established cooperation in resolving the problem of insufficient iodine in children's alimentation. The Kiwanis international club will donate USD 40,000 to UNICEF in Croatia for work on this project. Another project, a programme for following the growth and proper feeding of pre-school children is being implemented in Croatia in cooperation with the UNICEF. It showed that the number of underfed children in war-endangered areas had grown over the years of war. (hina) ha jn 171619 MET dec 97