UNICEF says typhoon Yagi impacts millions in SE Asia

By Anjali Sharma

UNITED NATIONS – UNICEF on Wednesday said that 6 million children have been affected by floods and landslides by Typhoon Yagi in Viet Nam, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand.

UNICEF said in an update that the emergency had compromised access to clean water, education, healthcare, food and shelter – and pushed already marginalized communities “deeper into crisis”.

June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and Pacific said that the immediate priority was to restore the essential services that children and families rely on.

She highlighted the “surge” in extreme weather events in Southeast Asia that had been made worse by climate change; and she noted that when disasters hit, vulnerable children “often pay the highest price”.

Typhoon Yagi is the most powerful storm to hit Asia so far this year.

It has brought torrential rain on top of existing seasonal rainfall, causing damage to more than 850 schools and at least 550 health centres the vast majority in Viet Nam.

Humanitarian assessments in the region are still ongoing, the agencies added.

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