Typhoon Fung-wong struck the Philippines overnight, following a series of recent disasters and further exposing the country’s vulnerability as the world’s most disaster-prone nation this year. The typhoon forced the suspension of schools for at least two days, affecting millions of children and disrupting their education. At least two people were killed, and over 1.4 million individuals were evacuated, including an estimated 470,000 children, as the storm brought flash floods, landslides, and extreme winds.
The Philippines has faced multiple disasters in recent weeks, including Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed around 200 people, and a 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu in September. Many families were still recovering from these earlier events when Typhoon Fung-wong struck, displacing communities and damaging temporary shelters for children and families. Save the Children emphasized that the poorest communities and children are often the hardest hit, and recovery is slow and fragile.
Save the Children highlighted the urgent need for immediate action to protect children from the impacts of increasingly intense typhoons and other climate-related disasters. The organization noted that since the first COP climate summit 30 years ago, 48 million children per year—or 136,000 children per day—have been affected by climate-related disasters. While definitive links between climate change and typhoon frequency are still being studied, rising ocean temperatures have been shown to increase typhoon intensity.
In response, Save the Children is preparing to provide essential aid, including 500 shelter kits arriving in Cebu, emergency food and cash support, and access to safe drinking water. The organization also plans to offer medical assistance and emotional support for affected children. Save the Children has been working in the Philippines since 1981, delivering programs in humanitarian response, health and nutrition, education, and the protection of children’s rights.
