Press conference invitation ( Madad )

Who: Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa

Nadeem Karkutli, Manager, EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, the 'Madad Fund,' European Commission

Jad Rahbani, renown composer and producer

Juliette Touma, UNICEF Regional Chief of Communications, Middle East and North Africa

When: 11 March, 2019, 11:00AM (GMT +2)

Where: UNICEF Office, Sama Beirut, Ashrafieh, Sodeco, level 0, Beirut, Lebanon

Why: To mark eight years since the start of the war in Syria, UNICEF is launching its first ever children’s songs album. Featuring children from Syria and neighbouring countries, the production includes rearranged old children’s songs from 1976.

The songs are all-time regional favourites written and composed by the world-famous composer Elias Rahbani during the war in Lebanon. With generous support from the European Union Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, the EU “Madad” Fund, UNICEF and Jad Rahbani held 11 workshops for nearly 300 children affected by the crisis in Syria to train them and record the re-arranged version of these songs.

“11” is part of UNICEF’s core commitments for children affected by the crisis. UNICEF provides psychosocial support as part of its package of assistance in response to conflicts and crises. As a result of the eight-year-long war in Syria, 8 million children are now in need of assistance including psychosocial support.

“11” and other multimedia products here. The album is also available free of charge on Anghami, Deezer, Sound cloud, Spotify and YouTube.

To confirm your attendance:

Maya Outayek moutayek@unicef.org, +961 70 190 634

For more information and interview requests:

Juliette Touma, jtouma@unicef.org, +962-79-867-4628

Suad Al Marani, salmarani@unicef.org, +962-79-015-8741

Tamara Kummer, tkummer@unicef.org, +962 797 588 550

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