More than 1.6 million children are at risk as Typhoon Noruis expected to make landfall on September 27 night in central Vietnam, said UNICEF, adding that it has supported prepositioning humanitarian supplies to contribute to theresponse in the areas likely to be affected, it added.
According to the National Centre forHydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Typhoon Noru has increased its intensitycompared to a day prior. It is expected to cause extensive damage and potentialinterruption of basic services, especially for vulnerable populations in QuangTri, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai.
Nearly 5.6 million people living in the region are likely tobe affected by typhoon-force winds and torrential rainfall. Among them,one-third are children.
UNICEF said along with its partners, it is closelymonitoring the situation and expressed deep concern for children and familiesat risk.
“National and local authorities are taking preparedness andearly action measures to minimise damage to life and property,” said LesleyMiller, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Vietnam. “UNICEF is ready to supportwith life-saving interventions.”
The typhoon poses a serious threat to the most vulnerablechildren and their families in the coming days, she said.
Children are most impacted by disasters due to theirphysical and psychosocial vulnerabilities, and the disruption of servicesessential for their development. Strong winds, flooding, landslides, anddisplacement may put them at increased risk of disease and poor nutrition,jeopardize their access to education and health care services, and make themmore exposed to abuse, exploitation and neglect, according to the statement./.