Children displaced by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the city of Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines (Image: UNICEF/JMaitem)

IT IS NOW estimated that up to four million children could be affected by the super typhoon that blasted through the Philippines.

Staff from UNICEF have been rushing emergency supplies to areas ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan including therapeutic food for children, health kits, water and hygiene kits.

The charity’s emergency specialist in Tacloban City, Leon Dominador Fajardo, said today: “People, families with children are walking along the ruined roads. I don’t know where they are going – there is nowhere to go. They are walking because their homes are gone and they have nowhere to go.”

A family affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan resting along the street in the city of Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines (Image: UNICEF/JMaitem).

“So many people have nothing. Their children are hungry, some are sick, and they are frustrated,” he explained.

Christopher de Bono, Regional Chief of Communication, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific, said logistics in the affected areas are “a huge challenge”.

There are many parts of the country that were in the path of Typhoon Haiyan that are still inaccessible, so there is a lot we still don’t know and many children – probably millions – who desperately need our help and are not yet receiving it.

60 metric tonnes of emergency aid is due in the Philippines tomorrow from UNICEF’s central supplies in Denmark (Image: UNICEF).

UNICEF’s warehouse in Copenhagen is airlifting US$1.3 million worth of additional supplies for another 10,000 families, including those affected by the recent earthquake in Bohol. The shipments contain water purification tablets, soap, medical kits, tarpaulins, and micronutrient supplements.

Children who have escaped the terrible violence of Haiyan still need urgent assistance to survive the aftermath of the storm, the charity said today.

Particular concerns include health, due to the impact of the typhoon on water supply and sanitation systems. Children also need safe and protected spaces to be able to play and resume studying while adults work to recover their homes and livelihoods.

UNICEF launched its emergency appeal yesterday to address the immediate needs of children and their families. Donations can be made online of by calling Lo-call 1850 767 999.