UNICEF concerned for children affected by Typhoon Yagi, ready to support response efforts

September 11, 2024 | 13:57

(0) user say

UNICEF is deeply concerned for the safety and wellbeing of children and families who may have been affected by Typhoon Yagi in China and Vietnam.

UNICEF concerned for children affected by Typhoon Yagi, ready to support response efforts

Yagi is the fourth cyclone to strike Southeast Asia this year and is anticipated to be the most severe. Following its impact on the northern Philippines, where it has already caused 12 deaths and displaced nearly 65,000 people, Typhoon Yagi is now feared to be affecting up to hundreds of thousands of people in China and Vietnam, with additional heavy rain expected in neighbouring countries.

“In any emergency, children are among those who suffer the most,” said Myo Zin-Nyunt, UNICEF deputy regional director for East Asia and Pacific. “With their strong winds and heavy rains, typhoons can displace children and their families, shut down schools, disrupt their access to healthcare and safe drinking water, and increase the risk of waterborne diseases.”

UNICEF is closely monitoring the situation and is on standby to support the governments of China and Vietnam in their emergency response efforts, if requested. UNICEF has already pre-positioned essential supplies in warehouses across the region to ensure swift distribution to those in need, including water purification tablets, family hygiene and dignity kits, learning and recreational kits, and tents.

UNICEF is urging frontline workers, parents, families, caregivers, and local authorities in typhoon-affected areas to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children, and asking families to stay informed through reliable sources and avoid areas at risk of flooding, landslides, and high winds.

In East Asia and the Pacific, children are exposed to multiple, overlapping climate and environmental hazards, facing these threats six times more often than their grandparents did.

Prime Minister calls for support for those affected by typhoon Yagi

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on people, businesses, organisations and localities to provide aid and support for those affected by typhoon Yagi, the third storm to hit Vietnam this year.

PM demands urgent measures to overcome typhoon consequences

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 8 chaired a hybrid conference, urging swift and concerted action to overcome the aftermath of typhoon Yagi, which has devastated northern localities of Vietnam.