United Nations, Nov 11

The UN Children's Fund ( UNICEF) said Sunday that it is rushing emergency supplies to areas of the Philippines ravaged by super typhoon Haiyan, as the latest estimates indicate up to four million children could have been affected.

Therapeutic food for children, health kits, water and hygiene kits to support up to 3,000 families in the affected areas have already been mobilised from supplies available in the country, with distribution prioritised for the Tacloban area as soon as possible, reported Xinhua citing the UN agency in a release.

"We are rushing to get critical supplies to children who are bearing the brunt of this crisis," said Unicef Philippines Representative Tomoo Hozumi.

"Reaching the worst affected areas is very difficult, with limited access due to the damage caused by the typhoon to infrastructure and communications. But we are working around the clock to find ways to get these supplies to children as quickly as conditions allow," Hozumi said.

The powerful typhoon that swept across the Philippines Friday, one of the strongest storms ever to make landfall, cut a path of destruction through several central islands, leaving the seaside city of Tacloban in ruins and leading to early, unconfirmed estimates of as many as 10,000 dead, reports said.

Unicef's warehouse in Copenhagen, Denmark, is airlifting $1.3 million worth of additional supplies for another 10,000 families in the Philippines, including those affected by the recent earthquake in Bohol.

Children who have escaped the terrible damage of Haiyan still need urgent assistance to survive the aftermath of the storm. Particular concerns include health, due to the impact of the typhoon on water supply and sanitation systems. 

By:IANS