Over 1.7 million children live in areas affected by strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year

UNICEF Philippines/2025/Larry Monserate Piojo 

MANILA – More than 1.7 million children are impacted by Super Typhoon Uwan (International Name: Fung-wong), which made landfall in the Philippines on 9th November.

The severe storm has wreaked havoc to children’s homes, schools, and access to health services across 16 regions in the archipelago that is already exhausted by multiple climate-related and geophysical shocks this year.

“Children and their families are barely climbing out of one crisis before another strikes, pushing them back to zero. As the world experiences more frequent and intense climate shocks, the most vulnerable children should not have to pay the highest price,” said UNICEF Philippines Representative Kyungsun Kim.

Typhoon Uwan, the strongest to hit the Philippines in 2025, swept across the country earlier this week affecting over 5.17 million people, according to government figures. Among them, many children now face heightened risks of acute respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, mental health distress, malnutrition, and disrupted learning. Homes, schools, and health centers have been damaged or destroyed, forcing families into crowded evacuation centres.

For the past four years, the Philippines has ranked as the world’s most disaster-prone country by the World Risk Index with heatwaves, typhoons, and torrential rains exacerbated by the climate crisis.

“We champion a multi-pronged approach – providing urgent life-saving support while working for child-centred climate policies, climate-resilient social services, and mobilising climate financing to safeguard communities,” Kim added.

Joint assessments with the Philippine government and partners are underway to determine urgent needs in water, sanitation, hygiene, health, nutrition, education, protection, and social protection. Meanwhile, pre-positioned emergency supplies from UNICEF’s warehouses in Manila and Cotabato are being mobilised to reach affected families quickly.

UNICEF will also deliver emergency nutrition supplies – including Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), therapeutic milk, and breastfeeding kits – to ensure children with malnutrition continue to receive treatment.

With support from the United Nation’s Central Emergency Response Fund, UNICEF is ready to deliver US$540,000 in emergency cash assistance to vulnerable households in Catanduanes, one of the most heavily affected provinces, with plans to expand as needs are reassessed through the flagship national social protection programme.

More than 15,000 classrooms have sustained damages in varying degrees, and over 900 public schools are now being used as evacuation centres. Many children have lost their safe spaces to learn and play. Psychosocial support and child protection services are also urgently needed. Psychosocial support and child protection services are also urgently needed.

Before Super Typhoon Uwan, in response to earlier typhoons and earthquakes since October, UNICEF provided hygiene and water kits to about 6,000 households in Cebu, Davao Oriental, and Dinagat Islands.

Note to editors:

UNICEF has estimated the number of potentially affected children based on data from the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (latest census with available data on children) and the 2020 Census-based population projections for 2025, and the latest Department of Social Welfare and Development DROMIC Report #10 on the effects of Super Typhoon “Uwan” as of 12 November 6AM. The Philippines has ranked as the world’s most disaster-prone country by the WorldRiskReport 2025 - Welthungerhilfe