Further EC funding ‘urgently needed’ for survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, says child rights organisation Plan

Typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) swept through the Philippines on 8 November, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. Thousands of people have lost their lives, and it’s estimated that over 9.8 million people have been affected – around 10% of the entire population of the Philippines.

The United Nations announced on 12 November that it is seeking an initial response of almost €225 million to meet the immediate needs of the survivors.

Further funding pledges ‘urgently needed’

The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Directorate has so far pledged only €3 million towards the emergency response. Given the scale of the disaster, further funding is urgently needed.

Head of Plan EU Office in Brussels Alexandra Makaroff said: “The European Commission is the world’s leading humanitarian aid donor, and prides itself on this fact. However, the European Commission’s initial financial response of €3 million is entirely insufficient given the gravity of disaster. This crisis looks likely to be the biggest humanitarian emergency this year, as EC officials themselves have said, and additional financial support is urgently needed. People are in desperate need of help.”

While Plan welcomed the announcement of Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs (12 November 2013) to make available €10 million for the longer term rehabilitation of the typhoon-affected areas, the organisation insisted that it was "important to remember that the funding will not go towards meeting the immediate needs of  the population".

Children 'among most vulnerable'

In any disaster situation, the focus is on meeting the immediate, life-saving needs of the survivors. However, specific attention must be paid to children – particularly girls – who are among the most vulnerable.

Child protection measures to ensure children have adequate, safe and supportive family care; to prevent exploitation and abuse of vulnerable children; and to support the healthy psychological and social recovery of children who have lived through and are living extremely distressing situations are priorities.

“We know from more than 50 years of experience working in the Philippines that when disasters hit, they always hit the most vulnerable the hardest. Children are always badly affected by disasters like this; some will lose their lives, or lose parents, siblings and extended families,” said Country Director of Plan Philippines Carin Van der Hor.

“Everything that is familiar and safe is disrupted or destroyed, including homes, schooling and family livelihoods. These children will also have seen things that no child should have to see.”

Plan in the Philippines

Plan is appealing for €18.6 million to cover at least 52,968 families or 264,841 people in four provinces (Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Cebu and Leyte). All of Plan Philippines’ programme units, home to about 40,000 sponsored children, are likely to have been affected by the typhoon.

Plan’s emergency teams are on the ground and responding to the needs of affected children and families. Getting food, clean drinking water, medical supplies and shelter to children and families are Plan’s immediate priorities, as well as restoring access to education.

So far, Plan has distributed hundreds of emergency shelter kits and water cans to 366 families in East Samar, one of the worst-affected areas.

Before Typhoon Haiyan hit land, Plan positioned thousands of water and hygiene kits containing basic but essential materials to prevent infections and diseases, and thousands of pieces of plastic sheeting for emergency shelter to be distributed to affected communities. These will serve about 20,000 people.

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