UNICEF ‘concerned’ for Filipino children amid ‘super typhoon’ Mawar

By Zeus Legaspi

The United Nations’ humanitarian agency, UNICEF, expressed concern for Filipino children and families who may fall victim to Typhoon Mawar (local name Betty).

Mawar, which was identified as a “super typhoon”, is expected to bring heavy rains, floods, and landslides in the northern Philippines.

The UN agency said that they have prepared emergency supplies for nearly 10,000 families to address their needs for clean water, sanitation, nutrition, education, and child protection.

The supplies include household hygiene kits, tents, water purification tablets, ready-to-use therapeutic foods, and school supplies.

“UNICEF stands ready to distribute these supplies on short notice and activate partners for immediate distribution,” the organization said on Sunday. They said that they are in constant communication with partners at the national and local levels.

Recently, the agency released a report saying that nearly all children in the Philippines face multiple and overlapping types of climate and environmental shocks. They also called for urgent action from governments, businesses, and donors to invest in building “climate-smart social services”.

Evacuations ongoing

As of Monday, Typhoon Mawar reportedly reached maximum sustained winds of 155 kph (96 mph) and gusts of up to 190 kph (118 mph) but is expected to slow down considerably as it veers northeast toward Taiwan or southern Japan, the country’s national meteorological agency said.

Philippine officials began evacuating people in the country’s northern provinces as the typhoon approached the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

The authorities warned of possible tidal surges, flash floods, and landslides. Mawar is projected to hit the northernmost province of Batanes from Tuesday to Wednesday.

More than 4,800 people have been evacuated to emergency shelters in the provinces of Cagayan, Batanes, and nearby municipalities. Schools and offices have also been suspended in most of the Cagayan and Batanes provinces.

Mawar slowed down and may become stationary over the waters of Batanes from Tuesday to Wednesday. The typhoon may exit PAR on Friday.

Another super typhoon, Typhoon Haiyan, struck the central Philippines in November 2013, destroying more than a million houses, killing more than 7,300 people, and leaving more than 5 million people homeless.