GENEVA - UNICEF has launched an emergency appeal for an initial 8.2 million dollars to assist the survivors of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar.

UNICEF said the priority was to ensure supplies of clean drinking water, shelter materials, water purification tablets, cooking sets, mosquito nets, food and essential drugs.

An estimated 1 million people have been left homeless by the cyclone which struck Friday.

Many schools and health centres have been destroyed or severely damaged and electricity has been cut. Access to clean water and health care were major concerns bringing increased risks of water- borne diseases.

The Deputy Director of UNICEF's Office of Emergency Programmes Pierrette Vu Thi said, in launching the appeal in Geneva: "Children are the most vulnerable in coping with the effects of such a disaster. They are likely to be severely affected and in need of immediate assistance."

UNICEF was distributing pre-positioned emergency supplies including family health kits with medicine for 155,000 people. (dpa)