MORE than 4.1 million children in Eastern and Central Visayas and Northeast Mindanao were affected by Typhoon Odette (international name Rai) which made landfall in Siargao and Islands on Thursday, Save the Children Philippines said.

Thousands of families were evacuated before the typhoon hit land. “Odette” destroyed houses and uprooted trees, leaving towns and cities without electricity.

Save the Children expressed grave concern for the welfare of the displaced children and their families who are in evacuation centers, and who are being exposed to disease outbreaks such as malaria and diarrhea, as well as the risk of contracting Covid19.

Save the Children formed four humanitarian teams ready for deployment to the typhoon affected regions. Aid workers underwent urgent Covid19 tests prior to travelling, to ensure they were virus-free.

“This really is an exceptional situation – a mass evacuation event, at the same time as a global Covid19 spike. We have seen at least 12,557 children and youth in Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte in Mindanao evacuated to cramped centers with poor hygiene and sleeping conditions. With the rapid spread of the Omicron variant and the still too-low rates of Covid19 vaccination across the Philippines, we are particularly concerned that children and their parents will become unwell with Covid19 and be unable to receive treatment in a timely manner,” Save the Children’s Humanitarian Manager in the Philippines, Jerome Balinton, said.

“The most marginalized and most discriminated children, including those from poor households and those with disabilities, will bear the brunt of disasters. We call on the effective implementation of the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act (RA 10821) by local governments to ensure ensuring that children, mothers, and the most vulnerable people in the path of the typhoon are being taken care of before, during, and after the emergency and that security protocols are in place to prevent incidence of child abuse and exploitation in evacuation centers,” Save the Children Philippines Chief Executive Director Atty. Albert Muyot said.

Save the Children is ready to provide essential items to help families continue to care for their children — including household kits with basic necessities for families, tarpaulins to build emergency shelters, and hygiene kits.