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Philippines: Child survivors of typhoons face serious threats
MANILA, 7 December 2004 - UNICEF announced today that child survivors of the recent typhoons now face serious threats, as the most vulnerable group in times of disasters.
“Two children have already died of diarrhoea in one evacuation center in Camarines Norte, and many more are dehydrated,” Dr. Nicholas Alipui, UNICEF Country Representative to the Philippines, said.
“The most common problems during floods are diarrhoea and dysentery. Due to crowded and damp surroundings, many children also have flu and chest infections, accompanied with fever. A malaria outbreak is also highly possible,” Alipui added.
It is estimated that over 345,000 children were affected by the flooding and landslides.
No data are yet available on the exact number of children and women killed and missing.
Initially, UNICEF is providing US$55,600 (P3.12 million) worth of relief goods to Aurora and Camarines Norte, two of the hardest-hit areas that are also UNICEF-assisted localities in the country.
Future relief operations will include Isabela, another UNICEF-assisted province, and Quezon province which suffered some of the worst landslides and flash floods.
UNICEF has appealed for US$720,000 (P40.4 million) more from the international community to meet the urgent needs of children.
The relief goods from UNICEF include family survival packs (food, cooking and eating utensils, clothes, plastic mats, water containers and blankets), basic medicines, and water purifying tablets.
Earlier, SeaAir in coordination with Sprint, donated a flight to Camarines Norte to deliver the first tranche of relief supplies. The flight contained over $2,100 (P117,700) worth of food and medicine.
The typhoons have also seriously affected early childhood care and development facilities and schools, some of which have been partially or completely washed away or damaged. Many more remain under water. Schools and day care centers, in particular, have been used as evacuation centers, which usually render school properties vulnerable to damage and loss.
In the meantime, a United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Team has arrived in the country to assist in on-site assessment and relief coordination activities.
The five-member team is now in Aurora, where nearly 40 per cent of the total population was affected by the typhoons.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Ma. Alexis Rodrigo
UNICEF Manila
Philippines
Telephone: (632) 901-0173; +63916-3564015
