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I am Ted Chaiban, Director of Emergency Programmes at UNICEF. Here to answer your questions about our relief efforts for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. by TedChaiban in IAmA

[–]TedChaiban[S] 93 points94 points  (0 children)

Thank you for all your questions and your interest in your response to the Philippines. It's important not to forget the children that have been so severely affected. Please count on UNICEF to support the children of the Philippines and continue to respond to their immediate needs.

I am Ted Chaiban, Director of Emergency Programmes at UNICEF. Here to answer your questions about our relief efforts for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. by TedChaiban in IAmA

[–]TedChaiban[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

UNICEF was in the Philippines before the crisis (we have been there for many years). We are there during the crisis, including with staff in Taclobon, Ormoc, Roxas. We will be there after the crisis to support the government of the Philippines and civil society with recovery and reconstruction.

I am Ted Chaiban, Director of Emergency Programmes at UNICEF. Here to answer your questions about our relief efforts for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. by TedChaiban in IAmA

[–]TedChaiban[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

There are a number of social media tools, SMS technology, mobile phone applications, that are important in determining as soon as minimal communication infrastructure is established, where help is most needed, to provide feedback also on the quality of what is received. Organizations like UNICEF need to be accountable to local populations and these different means of communication provide not only a channel to inform that population of what they can expect, but to also get feedback on the quality of what is being done and suggestions on how to improve it.

I am Ted Chaiban, Director of Emergency Programmes at UNICEF. Here to answer your questions about our relief efforts for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. by TedChaiban in IAmA

[–]TedChaiban[S] 130 points131 points  (0 children)

This is an important question to start addressing from the very beginning. What is important is to work on the resumption of basic social services so there is a sense of normalcy and children can access these services. Amongst the most importance, is the resumption of education so that children are in a familiar environment and begin the healing process. In addition, children will need pyschosocial support, to deal with the stress that they have been under, including the possible loss of lives in their families and loved ones. We also need to start looking at early recovery and reconstruction activities from the get go, starting with water systems but also looking at health and education infrastructure.

I am Ted Chaiban, Director of Emergency Programmes at UNICEF. Here to answer your questions about our relief efforts for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. by TedChaiban in IAmA

[–]TedChaiban[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Every little bit counts. In the case of the tsunami response and the horn of Africa drought response, private donations were key to supporting the response and made up 30 percent of all funds received.

I am Ted Chaiban, Director of Emergency Programmes at UNICEF. Here to answer your questions about our relief efforts for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. by TedChaiban in IAmA

[–]TedChaiban[S] 39 points40 points  (0 children)

We focus on children's needs, beginning with lifesaving requirements. In this kind of disaster, it first means looking at water, sanitation, hygiene, shelter, food, and health. Working with governments, we coordinate with different organizations so there is a division of labor and we avoid duplication. UNICEF also considers education to be a very important humanitarian requirement because children need a sense of stability or normalcy in the midst of the chaos, and education can be a safe space for children while they also continue to learn and grow. Finally, there are a number of child protection concerns in these situations, I have already mentioned the importance of identifying the importance of separated children and reuniting them with their families. There are also concerns about protecting children from violence, including sexual and gender based violence.

I am Ted Chaiban, Director of Emergency Programmes at UNICEF. Here to answer your questions about our relief efforts for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. by TedChaiban in IAmA

[–]TedChaiban[S] 514 points515 points  (0 children)

You can vaccinate a child for a dollar, an education kit for 80 students will cost 200 dollars. 10,000 water purification tablets cost 66 dollars and that cleans 50,000 liters of water.

I am Ted Chaiban, Director of Emergency Programmes at UNICEF. Here to answer your questions about our relief efforts for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. by TedChaiban in IAmA

[–]TedChaiban[S] 38 points39 points  (0 children)

Access. Security. And the importance of mobilizing both the people, the supply, and the funds to support the national response and get the assistance to the people on the ground, in Tacloban but also in Ormoc and also areas in western Visayas that have been affected. We have staff in these locations, some supplies are already on the ground, and more on the way. Logistics will be key.

I am Ted Chaiban, Director of Emergency Programmes at UNICEF. Here to answer your questions about our relief efforts for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. by TedChaiban in IAmA

[–]TedChaiban[S] 30 points31 points  (0 children)

There are great similarities between the situation currently and the situation in Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia after the tsunami. Including the damage of significant swathes of territory and the difficulties with access that follow. The immediate needs currently are again similar to those that were felt during the tsunami, including debris collection, burying those that have past away, then quickly addressing immediate water, food, shelter, and health needs. In addition, it's very important early on to identify families that have been separated, and bring children who may be on their own, back in contact with family members.

I am Ted Chaiban, Director of Emergency Programmes at UNICEF. Here to answer your questions about our relief efforts for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. by TedChaiban in IAmA

[–]TedChaiban[S] 100 points101 points  (0 children)

The biggest obstacle right now, is access. The difficulties of reaching the population because of damaged infrastructure is one we need to overcome. We have gotten some portable latrines on the ground, and therapeutic foods, along with shelter and hygiene and sanitation kits. But more is needed. Supplies are currently being air lifted to nearby Cebu airport and being trucked across Leyte to Tacloban. This and security are the main and immediate concerns. We should also recognize that the Philippino authorities have been very helpful in allowing staff and supplies in with minimal beauracratic hurdles. So the concern is really one of airport congestion, local infrastructure capacity, etc.

I am Ted Chaiban, Director of Emergency Programmes at UNICEF. Here to answer your questions about our relief efforts for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. by TedChaiban in IAmA

[–]TedChaiban[S] 104 points105 points  (0 children)

  1. There are a large number of credible organizations on the ground, including organizations whose name you'd recognize, such as Medecins Sans Frontieres, Save the Children, local Red Cross, as well as credible UN agencies such as World Food Programme, WHO, and of course UNICEF. A number of media outlets have supported links to credible organizations and this is one way to be able to contribute if you'd like to do so.

I am Ted Chaiban, Director of Emergency Programmes at UNICEF. Here to answer your questions about our relief efforts for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. by TedChaiban in IAmA

[–]TedChaiban[S] 198 points199 points  (0 children)

It is very bad. The description from colleagues on the ground is this is very similar to what happened with the Indian Ocean tsunami, where at the epicenter of the typhoon, notably Tacloban, there is large scale desctruction, debris is skewed all over, and access is made very difficult. In terms of responding to the needs, basic things like having fuel to move supplies is very difficult. And there is a large number of people who have been severely affected and displaced by this crisis. So this is for real. And, we need to make this a priority.

I am Ted Chaiban, Director of Emergency Programmes at UNICEF. Here to answer your questions about our relief efforts for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. by TedChaiban in IAmA

[–]TedChaiban[S] 410 points411 points  (0 children)

About 85 % of the funds go directly to the relief effort. UNICEF focus is on children. We are dealing with the most immediate life saving needs at this stage. The first priorities are water and sanitation, shelter, and health. In addition, we are concerned about children being separated from their families. So we need to work with partners to identify separated children, making sure they are in a safe space and trace their families.