Children particularly affected by Typhoon Haiyan

MEDIA RELEASE 11 NOVEMBER 2013 For immediate release

Children particularly affected by Typhoon Haiyan

Typhoon Haiyan, the strongest typhoon in 2013, hit the Philippines with sustained winds of 250kph on Friday 8 November. It forced an estimated one million people to flee to shelter, cutting power lines and destroying buildings.

“We expect the level of destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan to be extensive and devastating. Children are going to be particularly affected. We expect thousands to be left homeless, and without food or water, or simple necessities for hygiene, sanitation and medicines. Schools have been destroyed and children and teachers have no materials to resume their education,” said Save the Children New Zealand Chief Executive, Heather Hayden.

Save the Children’s emergency teams are on the ground. There are staff in the city of Tacloban and Iloilo cities, both hard hit by the typhoon, and in Bohol, supporting families who have already lost their homes following a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in October.

“We have pre-positioned relief kits for children and families to allow us to reach the most vulnerable children and their families, quickly. Subsequently, Save the Children will distribute emergency kits for children and families, including toiletries, blankets, mosquito nets, cleaning items, temporary school tents and education materials. We urgently need donations to support this work www.savethechildren.org.nz

“The next 24 hours will be crucial. With electricity supplies and water pumps down, the supply of drinking water is a main concern, alongside the need for medicines and tents," said Ms Hayden.

“While the immediate focus must be on saving lives, we are also extremely worried that thousands of schools have been knocked out of action by the typhoon. In the worst hit areas this will have a terrible impact on children's education. It is crucial that we help them back to school as quickly as possible to ensure that children have a chance at a better future."

Save the Children has been working in the Philippines since 1981 and has a long experience responding to emergencies in the Philippines. The aid agency mounted large-scale emergency responses to Typhoon Washi in 2011 and Typhoon Ketsana in 2009, and most recently to last year’s Typhoon Bopha and Manila floods.
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