The United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, has issued an urgent call for access to clean water, food, and shelter for nearly six million children across Southeast Asia affected by massive floods and landslides triggered by Typhoon Yagi. The storm, the most powerful to hit the region this year, has caused over 500 deaths and left millions displaced in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines. UNICEF’s regional director for East Asia and Pacific, June Kunugi, emphasized the need to restore essential services for vulnerable children and families impacted by the disaster.
The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) has launched emergency appeals for Vietnam and Myanmar, totaling 6.5 million Swiss francs. The devastating effects of climate-related disasters in the Asia Pacific region have been exacerbated by the compounding effects of the climate crisis on vulnerable populations.
UNICEF has confirmed significant damage to schools and health centers in Vietnam and highlighted the risk of disease due to cutting off access to safe drinking water and sanitation. In addition, access to education, psychosocial support, and school feeding programs has been disrupted for millions of children in the region.
The situation is particularly dire in Myanmar, where ongoing conflict has intensified the impact of Typhoon Yagi on communities already displaced by violence. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power in a coup earlier this year, has appealed for international assistance to address the crisis, despite previous obstacles to relief efforts by the military regime. Overall, the urgent need for humanitarian aid and support for the affected populations in Southeast Asia is evident in the wake of Typhoon Yagi’s devastation.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
Millions of Children in Southeast Asia Affected by Typhoon Yagi, According to UNICEF
