Philippines: UNICEF prepares for Typhoon Maysak (local name Chedeng)

Manila – The Philippines is bracing for Super Typhoon Maysak (local name Chedeng) as it enters the country’s area of responsibility this Lenten week.

According to latest reports, Maysak is located at 1,280 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar (10.7°N, 137.4°E). It has maximum sustained winds of 215 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 250 kph. (PAG-ASA Weather Advisory, 1 April 2015).

Maysak is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility in the morning of 2 April, Thursday. Its present course indicates a landfall over the Eastern Bicol region.

“UNICEF is ready to support the government with pre-positioned emergency supplies from our local warehouses in Manila, Tacloban, and Cotabato once the emergency hits. In times of disasters, children face the risk of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, violence and disrupted education. Our priority is to ensure that children and their rights and welfare are protected before, during and after disasters,” said Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF Philippines Representative.

UNICEF has pre-positioned essential supplies that include water kits, hygiene kits, water purification units, school tents, student and teacher materials, child-friendly space tents, medical supplies, nutritional therapeutic food items to combat malnutrition, oral rehydration salts, tarpaulins and generators for at least 10,000 families.

UNICEF has staff on standby in Manila, Tacloban and Cotabato City ready to be deployed in rapid assessments as soon as it is safe to travel. UNICEF, with the Philippine government, co-leads the joint response in the areas of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Nutrition and Child Protection.