UNICEF concerned for children affected by Typhoon Yagi

This 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 affect up to hundreds of thousands of people in China and Viet Nam, with additional heavy rain expected in neighboring 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 Viet Nam 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, tents, among others.

UNICEF urges frontline workers, parents, families, caregivers and local authorities in typhoon-affected areas to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of children, and urges families to stay informed through reliable sources and avoid areas at risk of flooding, landslides, and high winds during Typhoon Yagi.

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.