U.N appeals for 300m dollars for Philippines

The United Nations appealed for 300 million dollars to help typhoon-ravaged Philippines on Tuesday (November 12).

Humanitarian Affairs Office Spokesman, Jens Laerke told journalists in Geneva that the money was needed to help an estimated 11.3 million people in nine regions in the centre of the country. Laerke said that current estimates put the number of displaced people at 673,000.

At the same press conference, UNICEF spokeswoman, Marixie Mercado, put safe water, sanitation and hygiene at the top of the children's agency's relief priorities. She also pointed to the need for nutrition, health and education supplies and protection for the victims. Mercado said that about a third of the children in the Philippines were malnourished, increasing the importance of immediately getting safe water and hygiene items and medicine to protect children against diahorrea.

The World Health Organisation appealed for funds to set up temporary medical centres. Spokesman, Tarik Jasarevic, said that the organisation would help the injured and traumatised as well as provide regular health care, saying that 12,000 births were expected in the affected area in the next month alone.

Speaking for the UNHCR, Adrian Edwards said the situation in the wake of the typhoon put vulnerable people at risk. He said that women and children were begging on the streets for money which exposed them to abuse and possible exploitation.

Claire Nullis of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said the extent of the storm surge had been underestimated.

At least 10,000 people are feared to have been killed by Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the central Philippines on Friday.