Up to 1.7 million children affected by Typhoon Haiyan
Up to 1.7 million children could be affected by
Typhoon Haiyan in Philippines - UNICEF
As
the full impact is assessed of Typhoon Haiyan, which tore
through the Philippines over the last 48 hours, children are
expected to be amongst the most affected with some 1.7
million children believed to be living in the areas hit by
the emergency.
"With some 36 provinces reported by
the Government to have been hit by the typhoon - the
strongest ever to have made landfall anywhere in the world -
we know that a significant number of children will have been
badly affected," said UNICEF's representative in the
Philippines Tomoo Hozumi.
"UNICEF’s first
priorities are focused on life-saving interventions –
getting essential medicines, nutrition supplies, safe water
and hygiene supplies to children and families," he stressed.
"This is not the first natural disaster to strike
the Philippines recently, following the earthquake in Bohol
three weeks ago, so we know how vital it is to reach
children quickly," added Mr. Hozumi.
UNICEF will
join a rapid assessment within the next days, as conditions
allow more access to the hardest hit regions. UNICEF is
ready with NGO partners to help spearhead the response for
children as access improves.
UNICEF staff already
in the Philippines are being repositioned to deliver
emergency response, with more colleagues on the way to boost
teams already on the ground. UNICEF already has
prepositioned supplies available on the ground but right now
is sending across additional emergency supplies from our
warehouse in Copenhagen.
Dennis McKinlay,
Executive Director of UNICEF New Zealand said, “The rapid
assessment underway in the next few days will be critical to
understand the full extent of the damage caused by Typhoon
Haiyan. This will determine the damage to infrastructure and
to local communities, many of whom will have fled to other
areas and be in need of urgent assistance.
“As in
any natural or man-made disaster, children are among those
who suffer the most. We are deeply concerned about the
number of children who could potentially have been affected
by Typhoon Haiyan. As a charity relying fully on voluntary
support, we are urgently seeking donations at www.unicef.org.nz/philippines
”
UNICEF’s resources are stretched from
responding simultaneously to three emergencies in the
Philippines: the armed conflict in Zamboanga on 9 September,
the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol on 15 October and now
super typhoon Haiyan on 8 November.
Earlier this
week the New Zealand Government provided $850,000 in
humanitarian assistance to the Philippines for response to
October’s earthquake and flooding, with $500,000 of this
to be delivered by UNICEF.
UNICEF is well placed
to cope with disasters in the Philippines having had offices
there since 1948. We have strong partnerships with the
Government and other partners in place. We usually have 60
staff on the ground whose work includes disaster
risk reduction, education,
health, nutrition, providing clean water,
sanitation and hygiene.
The population of the
Philippines is approximately 94 million, with 40 million of
the total population under 18 years old. 18% of people live
below the extreme poverty line of US $1.25 a
day.
Further updates to be made on the impact of
Typhoon Haiyan as more information is available. Follow us
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ENDS