(FILE PHOTO) No fear – Riding out the flood situation has given many the kind of bravado mustered by surfers. Some individuals in Baseco Compound in Manila are observed venturing near the huge tides from Manila Bay and wading through the flooded portion of the road as typhoon ‘Enteng’ batters Manila and other areas in Luzon on Monday. Photo by KING RODRIGUEZ
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Typhoons 'Kristine,' 'Leon' affect 1.3M kids

Gabriela Baron

Nearly 3,000 Filipino families affected by the back-to-back onslaught of typhoons “Kristine” and “Leon” have received aid from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The widespread damage caused by “Kristine” and “Leon” in the Philippines has left thousands of families and children without access to clean water and sanitation facilities, disrupting classes for 20 million learners.

The combined impact of both typhoons devastated 13 regions and 29 provinces, affecting at least 4.2 million individuals — approximately 1.3 million of whom are children — and displacing over 300,000 people.

“We can’t emphasize enough the importance of lifesaving supplies during and after an emergency,” said Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov, UNICEF Philippines Representative.

“We are working with our partners to provide water, sanitation and hygiene supplies to affected families and children to ensure their access to critical measures against the spread of diseases,” Dendevnorov added.

He noted that coverage and access to basic water and sanitation services had been low in the affected areas even before the emergency.