Children affected by Typhoon Lando climbs to over 700,000, says Save the Children

Save the Children estimates that over 700,000 children in the Philippines have been affected by typhoon Lando as recent government data show upsurge in the number of affected people since the first landfall on Sunday. Classes in various cities and towns are still suspended, disrupting education of thousands of school-aged children. 

Save the Children’s Country Director, Ned Olney, says, “We are extremely concerned with children and families who have lost everything, and without a roof over their heads. Although death toll stays low, let us not minimize the impact this storm has on people’s livelihoods.”

In Region 3, one of the worst-hit during typhoon Lando, many farmers were already struggling to grow their crops because of the drought months before the typhoon.

Olney added: “Our teams on the ground have seen nearly 100% damage to homes, schools and health centers in some of the worst hit areas. Access to roads is still difficult due to flooding and debris. Save the Children will continue our response and reach out to families who need our help the most.”

A woman member of the Dumagat tribe carries her child and the relief items she received from Save the Children. (Photo by : Jerome Balinton, 22 October 2015)

Save the Children is one of the first organizations to respond immediately after typhoon Lando hit. Our staff on the ground are distributing first batch of 2000 kits containing lifesaving relief supplies for families in some of the worst-affected communities in Casiguran, Aurora Province, where the typhoon first made landfall. Relief supplies include water purification tablets so that people have safe drinking water; tarpaulins to serve as emergency shelter; basic household kits containing kitchen utensils, mosquito nets and sleeping mats; and household kits with soap, towels and toothbrush. Save the Children also sent a team to Nueva Ecija province, where severe damage was also reported, is also conducting assessment to determine the needs of the children.

Save the Children will mount three to six months response that will target around 8,000 households in the worst affected locations. The priority areas for the emergency response are distribution of lifesaving relief supplies, education, health and child protection.

Save the Children has been implementing disaster risk reduction programs in Aurora, Bulacan and Pampanga to better prepare children and their families in times of disasters.