Ankara: Schools have been suspended for at least the next two days in the Philippines after the country was battered by Typhoon Fung-wong overnight, disrupting education for millions of children, Save the Children said.
According to Save the Children, at least two people have been killed and more than 1.4 million people evacuated, including an estimated 470,000 children, as the biggest typhoon to hit the Philippines in years and the second in a week triggered flash flooding, landslides, and extreme winds.
Typhoon Fung-wong follows a series of disasters that have recently struck the Philippines, underscoring the nation's vulnerability to such crises. This year, the WorldRisk Report ranked the Philippines as the world's most disaster-prone country. Save the Children is urging immediate and decisive action to protect children against the impacts of climate change, including increasingly intense typhoons, as world leaders convene in Brazil for the start of the 30th UN climate summit, COP30, to discuss solutions to the global climate crisis.
Last week, Save the Children released new data showing that 48 million children annually, or 136,000 children daily, have been affected by climate disasters like typhoons since the first COP climate summit was held 30 years ago. While there is insufficient data to conclusively link climate change to the increasing frequency of typhoons, several studies indicate a relationship between rising ocean temperatures and increasing typhoon intensity.
Faisah Ali, Humanitarian Manager at Save the Children Philippines, remarked on the relentless series of disasters that have affected the country this year, noting that children and families have borne the brunt. These events have disrupted education and livelihoods, with families struggling to recover before another disaster strikes. Many affected families are still dealing with the aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi and the September earthquake in Cebu.
After such a powerful typhoon, children require essential supplies, medical assistance, and emotional support. Save the Children is prepared to work with local partners and government agencies to support recovery efforts. Typhoon Kalmaegi, which hit the Philippines last week, resulted in approximately 200 fatalities, including children, and affected areas already reeling from a 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu.
Families and children living in temporary shelters due to the earthquake had to relocate because of Typhoon Kalmaegi, and some tents for displaced families were dismantled. Save the Children is preparing to distribute 500 shelter kits expected to arrive in Cebu this week. The organization is also gearing up to provide food, emergency cash, and immediate access to safe drinking water.
Save the Children has been active in the Philippines since 1981, with programs focused on humanitarian response, health and nutrition, education, and children's rights and protection.
