Save the Children Philippines has distributed on Friday life-saving humanitarian support to thousands of displaced children and their families following massive devastation of Super Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) in the Bicol provinces. Donate to support our Typhoon Rolly emergency response, today.
Two truckloads of hygiene kits, family emergency items, and water kits have been distributed to thousands of households in four barangays in Tiwi, Albay where the storm made landfall. Life-saving humanitarian aid will also be distributed to affected families in Camarines Sur and Catanduanes-the worst hit province of Super Typhoon Rolly.
Children are experiencing hunger and distress, missing out on classes a week after the world’s most powerful typhoon hit the coastal and poverty-stricken provinces of Bicol.
“Our house was destroyed. I feel bad because we don't have money for repairs,” said 16-year old Rodelfa, whose house in the coastal town of Tiwi in Albay province was among those flattened by storm surges. She and her family now live in a makeshift shack with plastic sheets for walls.
“We need food, and also help with our education. In senior high school, we use cellphones [for distance learning because of COVID-19]. But we don't have money to buy phone credits, and I don't have my own cellphone. I just borrow one,” she said.
Atty. Alberto Muyot, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Philippines said:
“Children from poor households, and those living in remote areas bear the brunt of the climate-related shocks. Its impact is killing our children, their loved ones, and ruining their homes and their chance to a future.”
He said the humanitarian system in the country is stretched out as calamity funds of local government were depleted by their respective COVID-19 response, and previous typhoons and calamities.
Save the Children estimates that at least 1.3 million people, of whom 450,000 are children, were severely affected by Super Typhoon Rolly, the 18th typhoon to hit the Philippines for 2020. Donate to support our Typhoon Rolly emergency response, today.
Based on initial assessment, Save the Children identified immediate needs of children and their families that include clean drinking water, food security and livelihood, as well as learning and teaching materials of children and teachers which were damaged by the typhoon. These materials include the printed modules/ activity sheets, books, supply of bond papers, computers, printers, and Risographs.