UNICEF charity staff and supplies are being prepared with Typhoon Lupit scheduled to hit the Philippines in the next few days. Lupit, which means fierce in Filipino, is a category 4 typhoon, and is the third to hit the North of the country in the last 2 months.
A category 4 can create winds of up to 120mph, and in preparation the Filipino government is evacuating people in the northern areas which are prone to floods and landslides. UNICEF are now preparing water and sanitation supplies to assist the 8,000 families who could be affected in the aftermath.
The Philippines has now had 5 severe weather related disasters across the country since September, with many people killed, injured and over 80,000 still in evacuation centres.
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Fiona Hesselden, said –
This region is still suffering from the two previous typhoons and UNICEF remains very concerned about sanitation, hygiene and access to clean and safe water both inside and outside of evacuation centres. There are cases of acute watery diarrhoea and confirmed cases of cholera. So far the Department of Health reports they are under control and UNICEF is ensuring that the necessary preventative measures are in place.
UNICEF has appealed for £7.5 million pounds to support their tireless work to help the thousands of people left homeless in the Philippines but that amount is expected to rise to about £10 million. Thanks to the public’s generous donations, UNICEF will be on hand to help the Filipino people during their hour of need.
