Save the Children is sending rapid assessment teams Wednesday to the provinces of Northern Samar and Bicol in the Philippines following the aftermath of Typhoon Kammuri, locally known as Tisoy.
According to the government, nearly 15 million children are missing out on school, after classes were suspended in 12 regions due to violent winds and torrential rains, while some schools were used as evacuation centers.
Typhoon Kammuri is the 20th typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2019, packing winds of up to 155 kph and gusts up to 190 kph. The ferocity of the storm ripped off roofs, destroyed power lines and uprooted entire trees.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate. Communication lines are down in areas in the direct path of the typhoon in Bicol provinces and the Visayas.
The impact of typhoon Kammuri is massive, multilateral agencies estimate that 9 million people were affected. Of this number, three million live in areas expected to be seriously affected and will require urgent humanitarian assistance.
Jerome Balinton, Humanitarian Manager of Save the Children Philippines, said: “Our rapid assessment team will help us understand the situation of children and their families affected by typhoon Kammuri.”
Alberto Muyot, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Philippines said: “Children are one of the most vulnerable groups during natural disasters, particularly those under five, children from marginalized communities, girls and those with disabilities."
“The Philippines is no stranger to extreme weather but we are seeing a disturbing the rise in the frequency and ferocity of tropical storms battering our country. Children are more likely than adults to be injured or killed during these extreme weather events. As world leaders gather in Spain for COP25, the children of the Philippines continue to bear the brunt of the climate emergency. The world must act now to safeguard future generations.”
Save the Children has prepositioned items that can be dispatched immediately. These include plastic sheets that can be used as temporary shelters to displaced families, distribute vital household items and family hygiene kits, and temporary learning spaces and teaching kits.