Philippines: UN rushes in relief supplies for flood victims after Typhoon Durian

5 December 2006 – United Nations agencies are rushing relief supplies for victims of floods and mudslides in the Philippines, where at least 526 people have been killed, more than 1000 wounded and 740 reported missing in the wake of Typhoon Durian, which totally destroyed 80,000 homes, damaged more than 150,000 others and affected 1.5 million overall.

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) is giving priority to distributing potable water as well as water purification tablets.

At the Government's request, WHO will also furnish water purification equipment and is pre-positioning enough emergency health kits to care for 10,000 people for three months, spokesperson Fadéla Chaib told a news briefing in Geneva today.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is working on the assumption that 45 per cent of those affected are likely to be children.

Among supplies already provided by UNICEF are tins of sardines, rice, blankets, and water purification tablet, agency spokesman Michael Bociurkiw told the briefing.

On Friday, UNICEF will send 4,000 family-size tents, large water storage tanks and mosquito nets.