Water Supply back to full capacity in Typhoon-devastated Tacloban
UNICEF HK raised over HK$2.1 million to support relief
2013-11-18
© UNICEF/PFPG2013P-0246/MARISSA AROY - UNICEF Philippines Representative Tomoo Hozumi helped unload hygiene kits that were airlifted via a charter flight to the city of Tacloban. The hygiene kits contain essential supplies such as bath and laundry soap, toothush, toothpaste etc.
HONG KONG, 18 November 2013 —At least 200,000 people affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippine city of Tacloban and six surrounding districts are now receiving clean water for cooking and drinking, as the first water treatment plant came back to full operating capacity on Saturday last night.
© UNICEF Philippines/2013At least 200,000 people affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippine city of Tacloban and six surrounding districts are now receiving clean water for cooking and drinking, as the first water treatment plant came back to full operating capacity on Saturday last night.
As rapid assessment team accessed additional areas, UNICEF estimated over 5 million children are affected, of which 789,000 are displaced. They are growing increasingly vulnerable to water-borne diseases.
Critical negotiations involving UNICEF, the Philippine armed forces and USAID have resulted in an initial emergency supply of fuel from the Philippines military to run the water treatment plant for Leyte district for four days, with USAID pledging to maintain the supply of required fuel on an ongoing basis.
"It's critical that we provide at least 15 litres of clean drinking water per day for each individual if we are to prevent diarrhea and other water borne diseases,” said UNICEF Representative in the Philippines Tomoo Hozumi.
In the last 48 hours, UNICEF has been trucking and airlifting water and sanitation supplies to Tacloban and other affected areas including Roxas, in an ongoing effort to restore clean water supplies, and reduce the threat of diseases caused by poor sanitation and contaminated water.
The next steps will be to repair water distribution lines and provide water in the harder to reach areas.
In the meantime, UNICEF, WHO and local authority are planning a mass measles immunisation campaign in the coming weeks, starting in Tacloban. Child Protection partners have reached most northern Iloilo municipalities and will assist in coordination of cases and activities with government partners to prevent and address abuse, violence, trafficking and exploitation of children.
UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action for Children requests HK$480 million to respond to the needs of children and women affected by the Typhoon, an increase for original requirement. So far, Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF HK) has raised over HK2.1 million as of today’s afternoon. In addition to the HK$1 million allocated from its emergency fund on 11 November, over HK$3.1 million is allocated to aid the affected children and families.
Besides, from tomorrow (19 November) to 30 November, all donations collected from passengers onboard Cathay Pacific and Dragonair flights will be channeled to assist UNICEF's relief efforts in the Philippines through the “Change for Good” inflight fundraising programme.
Online donation:
Direct Bank-in:
HSBC: 567-354014-004 Bank of China: 12-875-1-0810855 Wing Lung Bank: 020-601-003-7635-2 Bank of East Asia: 015-260-81-01210-0
Cheque:
Payable to ‘Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF’
(Please send us the cheque with filled donation form with remark ‘Philippines typhoon’ at the back, and send to ‘Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF, 3/F, 60 Blue Pool Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong.’)
PPS:
Please use your contact number as the bill number.
Press UNICEF merchant code: 6012, and then select bill type 3 “emergency”.
Hotline:
2833 6139
(In the unusual event that donations for Philippines typhoon exceed the needs, we will direct your gift to disaster or emergency relief actions elsewhere.)
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