Life-saving UNICEF Supplies Reaching Philippines

Life-saving UNICEF Supplies Reaching Areas Affected by Typhoon Haiyan

UNICEF NZ Emergency Appeal. Donate at: www.unicef.org.nz/philippines or call 0800 800 194

Amid the huge devastation caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan, critical life-saving supplies for children and families are being delivered by UNICEF in Tacloban, Ormac and Roxas, the areas most affected by the disaster.

“Water supply service has been partially restored in Tacloban City with fuel, generators and spare parts secured for continued operations, said Ted Chaiban, Director of Emergency Programmes for UNICEF in a briefing at the United Nations. “This provides some safe drinking water to almost 200,000 people.”

Over the last three days, with the help of 15 tonnes of free cargo space donated by AirAsia, UNICEF has started to airlift hygiene kits for 18,000 people to Tacloban. Each hygiene kit includes detergent and laundry soap, bath soap, water containers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and sanitary pads.

“The needs are immense and immediate, so our response has to be equally far-reaching,” said UNICEF Philippines Representative Tomoo Hozumi. “We are working in the face of enormous logistical challenges and shortages of fuel and physical space to operate, but we are doing all we can for those who have lost everything.”

In addition to the AirAsia airlift, UNICEF has sent trucks with approximately US $142,000 worth of water, sanitation and hygiene supplies which have now arrived in Tacloban. These include water purification tablets, water tanks to support 45,000 people a day with drinking water, latrine slabs, and hygiene kits for another 15,000 people.

From stores in Manila, UNICEF has sent similar supplies to Roxas, including water tanks, to support up to 19,000 people; water purification tablets, and squatting plates to set up latrines for 8,500 people in that city.

Dennis McKinlay, Executive Director at UNICEF NZ, said, “New Zealanders have donated generously to our appeal for children and families affected by the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan. It’s fantastic to see their donations being turned into real support delivered by our UNICEF teams on the ground.

“UNICEF is making headway in reaching children in need despite huge difficulties faced in logistics and communication. We’re doing all we can as quickly as we can and there is yet more to come in the next few days, as our staff work round the clock to deliver much needed help.

“We will keep pressing to get supplies that meet these needs into Tacloban and other affected areas. These include food, shelter, access to clean water and basic sanitation. Thank-you to every single New Zealander who has donated so far. We still urgently need donations at www.unicef.org.nz/philippines or call 0800 800 194.

One of the most crucial tasks on the ground is providing safe drinking water and sanitation as damage to water pipes and infrastructure has severely compromised water supplies in the affected areas.

Tents, diarrhoeal disease kits, emergency hygiene kits for 90,000 patients and tarpaulins for shelter are to be delivered in Tacloban in the next days as the aid effort continues.

UNICEF is also mobilizing education support and supplies to the to the most affected areas. These include tents, Early Childhood Development (ECD kits), student school packs and teachers’ packs as well as library kits for delivery to the most affected areas.

The charity is setting up field offices in Cebu, Roxas, Tacloban and Ormo, and technical and logistical staff are already in place.

UNICEF is a charity relying fully on voluntary support. Donations can be made at: https://www.unicef.org.nz/Philippines or call 0800 800 194

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