Typhoon Yagi devastates Southeast Asia, affecting 6 million children: UNICEF

Nearly six million children have been affected by the destruction caused by Typhoon Yagi in Southeast Asia, according to UNICEF on Wednesday.

Floods and landslides triggered by Typhoon Yagi have ravaged Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, affecting children’s access to clean water, education, healthcare, food, and shelter.

June Kunugi, UNICEF’s regional director for East Asia and Pacific, stated that the most vulnerable children and families face the worst consequences of the typhoon’s destruction.

Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit Asia this year, brought torrential rains on top of seasonal rainfall, causing rivers to overflow and triggering deadly landslides.

According to reports, over 850 schools and more than 550 health centers have been damaged in total across the affected countries.

In Vietnam, three million children were affected, and the country has suffered $1.6 billion in economic losses, with casualties reaching 350.

In Myanmar, over 170 people were killed, and 320,000 were displaced due to the typhoon, with major infrastructure damage reported across the country.

Northern Thailand and Laos were also severely impacted, with tens of thousands of children affected as communities struggled to cope with the damage from the typhoon and ongoing climate change challenges.

The increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters like Typhoon Yagi highlight the devastating consequences of climate change, especially for vulnerable populations like children.

If global climate action remains inadequate, these extreme weather events will only worsen, leading to more destruction, displacement, and economic losses in regions already struggling with environmental and social challenges.

The post Typhoon Yagi devastates Southeast Asia, affecting 6 million children: UNICEF appeared first on Khaama Press.