On 15 July, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Lionel Leo Messi signs his autograph for children at the UNICEF office in Port-au-Prince, the capital. The children, who have been living in tent camps since the earthquake, participate in recreation programmes managed by the Haitian Olympic Committee, with support from the Government, UNICEF and other partners. The programmes provide structured daily sports activities and psychosocial support for young people. Mr. Messi and the children wear T-shirts bearing the UNICEF logo.

On 15 July 2010, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Lionel Leo Messi visited Haiti to draw attention to the situation of children six months after the 12 January earthquake. Mr. Messi briefly visited Carrefour Aviation, a tent camp housing some 50,000 people who were displaced by the quake. He also met UNICEF staff and the Argentinean contingent of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). In Haiti, Government and humanitarian agencies continue recovery efforts for the 3 million people affected by the quake, which killed over 220,000 people and injured over 300,000. Despite significant progress in recovery operations, some 500,000 children remain extremely vulnerable. An estimated 800,000 children continue to live in tent camps, lacking adequate access to sanitation, safe water, education and health facilities. Mr. Messi is a renowned football player for FC Barcelona of Spain and for Argentinas national team. He was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in March of this year; this is his first field visit on UNICEFs behalf.