UNICEF’s Top Priority is Protecting Children as Typhoon Hagupit Predicted to Hit the Philippines

NEW YORK (December 5, 2014) – UNICEF is fully prepared to assist children and families as Super Typhoon Hagupit moves toward the northern part of Eastern Visayas, the Philippines. Gaining strength and predicted to make landfall in the next few days, Super Typhoon Hagupit (local name Ruby) comes just 13 months after Super Typhoon Haiyan ravaged Tacloban and other coastal communities in Eastern Visayas.

UNICEF is working closely with the local government and other partners in Tacloban on preparedness measures. Pre-positioned essential supplies are also ready to be deployed from UNICEF’s global warehouse in Copenhagen and local warehouses in Manila, Leyte and Cotabato.

These emergency supplies include water kits, hygiene kits, water purification units, tents for temporary schools and child friendly spaces, student and teacher materials, medical supplies, therapeutic food to combat malnutrition, oral rehydration salts, tarps and generators powerful enough for at least 10,000 families.

“UNICEF is working with the national and local government and partners to safeguard children and families, and ensure that they are prepared and supported. We are closely monitoring the situation and teams are in place in Tacloban City ready to respond to this new emergency,” said Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF’s Representative in the Philippines.

“It is unfortunate that some of the communities recovering from last year’s massive disaster are faced again with yet another Super Typhoon. UNICEF will continue to be there by children and communities to assist them through this impending calamity.” 

In times of disasters, children face the risk of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, violence and disrupted education. UNICEF, alongside its partners, has been working to help strengthen the ability of local governments to respond to emergencies. UNICEF stands ready to provide support in the areas of water, sanitation, hygiene, health, nutrition, education and protection of children.

UNICEF began providing assistance to the Philippines in 1948. The country has long been affected by typhoons and other natural disasters, and over the years, UNICEF emergency teams have mounted large-scale responses.

About UNICEF

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

For additional information, please contact:

Susannah Masur, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.880.9146, smasur@unicefusa.org