Life-saving Essentials Reach Typhoon-Affected Children
UNICEF’s on-going emergency assistance is made possible through the generosity of its supporters
Over the past month, thousands of children’s lives have been disrupted by the series of destructive typhoons that hit the Philippines amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just ten days after Super Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) – the strongest typhoon of the year, to date – left a trail of devastation in Southern Luzon that affected an estimated 700,000 children, Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco) struck the country, yet again, causing major floods across Luzon that drove thousands more families to evacuate from their homes to seek safety.
UNICEF joined the assessment mission and revealed concerns for children's health & nutrition, education, child protection, and access to clean water, proper sanitation, and good hygiene.
On 25 November, UNICEF revised its Super Typhoon Rolly (Goni) appeal to include the Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) response amounting to PhP250 million.
UNICEF has received PhP115 million so far from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and from individual donors, including PhP23.1 million in supplies.
As of 27 November, around PhP6 million (US$132,000) in supplies that stand to benefit around 9,000 people have been received by children and families. These include hygiene kits, water quality testing equipment, generator, electrical pumps, latrines, water purification tablets, teachers & learners kits containing notebooks, crayons, blackboard & chalk, and child friendly space kits containing tents, toys and foam mats.
As of 27 November, around PhP6 million (US$132,000) in supplies that stand to benefit around 9,000 people have been received by children and families.
Upon receiving additional requests from partners and local governments, UNICEF is also delivering water tanks & bladders, water quality monitoring supplies, water purification tablets, hygiene kits, tarpaulins, oral rehydration salts, ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), face masks, face shields, and tents for children and families affected by Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) in Quezon, Rizal, Laguna and Tuguegarao.
“During emergencies, children are the most vulnerable. We thank those who have given their time, effort and resources to ease the suffering of children affected by the typhoons and the COVID-19 pandemic. Our work is far from over,” Ms. Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov, UNICEF Philippines Representative, says.
UNICEF is calling for urgent support to fill the PhP135 million funding shortfall to augment prepositioned supplies and respond to the dangers continuously being faced by children, especially in preparation for weather disturbances forecasted until the end of 2020.
Donate now to support UNICEF’s ongoing assistance to the most vulnerable families affected by disasters and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
