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 on Twitter and Facebook
 
ENDS

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