UNICEF prepares for arrival of Typhoon Ramil with $200,000 supplies to northern Luzon, PhilippinesManila, 20 October 2009 - UNICEF has pre-positioned $200,000 worth of supplies to four strategic locations in Northern Luzon in preparation for the possible landfall of Typhoon Ramil. The supplies consist of emergency health kits that contain essential drugs for adults and children, buckets and water purification tablets for 8,000 families and kits containing blankets, sleeping mats, water jugs and cooking pots for families in evacuation centers. In coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH), they are being strategically located in San Fernando City, La Union; La Trinidad, Benguet; Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; and Rosales, Pangasinan. Vanessa Tobin, UNICEF country representative said: “ We know that many of the evacuation centers are running low on supplies, and many families exhausted their reserves after Typhoon Pepeng. These deliveries contain essential supplies that families need to survive and stay healthy in the first days of an emergency, and by positioning them in key locations, we can ensure we can help those most in need quickly.’ In total UNICEF has assisted the Philippines with $2 million in supplies and programme activities, covering the key areas of health, water and sanitation, education and child protection. The relief effort continues in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces as well as in northern affected areas, and UNICEF is currently appealing for $12 million to ensure they can continue to help all those who are still without homes or jobs to support their families. ******************** For further information, please contact: Marge Francia, Communication Specialist, UNICEF Philippines, Tel: ++632 9010173, ++ 632 917.858.9447, mfrancia@unicef.org
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