$4.2 million UNICEF appeal for Philippine flood victims

GENEVA—UNICEF appealed for $4.2 million (3.2 million euros) on Tuesday to help an estimated 200,000 children in the flood-ravaged Philippines.

The tropical storm Washi (local name: Sendong) has left 957 dead and dozens missing since hitting the southern island of Mindanao on Friday.

A lack of clean water and sanitation facilities is causing major concern, children’s aid agency UNICEF said, after the storm destroyed the water systems in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

“Most residents have been left with no safe, reliable source of water,” said the organization, which is helping provide aid to the 20,000 children currently staying in evacuation centers.

The International Organization for Migration said Tuesday it had given $50,000 in emergency funds to support government efforts to deliver relief after an estimated 10,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.

Up to 45,000 people were displaced by the floods, it said, quoting the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The UN World Food Program is, meanwhile, contributing to the relief effort by sending high-energy biscuits to feed the thousands made homeless by the floods.