UNITED NATIONS, Sep 19 (IPS) – Typhoon Yagi, a deadly tropical cyclone, slammed into Southeast Asia and southern China in early September, causing widespread devastation. The United Nations (UN) said winds of 213 kilometres per hour (132 mph) as well as severe flooding and serious landslides devastated affected areas. Yagi is the worst natural disaster to hit the South China Sea in three decades, with more than 500 people dead, 38 missing and 1,900 injured.
Officials estimate that 292 people have been killed in Vietnam and more than 100 in Myanmar. A spokesman for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the death toll could be higher than previously reported, and that the typhoon has affected more than 631,000 people.
The typhoon and subsequent flooding caused significant damage to critical infrastructure, such as water purification systems, leading to high rates of waterborne diseases and widespread water insecurity. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that around 400,000 households have lost access to clean water.
Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF are on the frontlines of affected areas distributing clean water and water purification tablets. “Clean water is essential to prevent food- and water-borne diseases and to maintain safe care and operations in health facilities, whether for people injured by the typhoon or those in urgent need of routine health care,” said Dr. Angela Pratt, WHO Representative for Vietnam.
In addition, Yagi has caused significant damage to thousands of homes in Southeast Asia. The WHO estimates that around 130,000 homes have been destroyed by severe flooding. Hundreds of health facilities and schools have also been damaged or destroyed, with around 2 million children in Vietnam alone facing long-term disruptions to their education.
Myanmar in particular has seen widespread displacement as a result. Myanmar’s government-run newspaper Myanma Alinn reports that 438 temporary camps have been opened to support the 240,000 people who have been internally displaced.
Myanmar’s state disaster management agency told reporters that the severe flooding has led to roadblocks, damaged bridges and downed power lines, severely hampering relief and telecommunications between districts.
Yagi has also caused extensive damage to the agricultural systems of the affected regions. The latest reports from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development state that the typhoon has sieged over 97,735 hectares of rice fields. In addition, over 11,746 hectares of vegetables and 6,902 hectares of fruit trees have been damaged. This has overwhelmed Asian farmers, putting them in a state of critical financial danger.
Experts predict that existing concerns about food insecurity in Southeast Asia will be greatly exacerbated. Sheela Matthew, the World Food Programme (WFP) representative in Myanmar, described the typhoon’s impact on hunger and malnutrition in the affected areas as “nothing short of devastating”.
In addition, the economies of the affected areas suffered significant losses as a result of the typhoon. Strong winds and severe flooding ripped open Vietnam’s highly fertile Red River Delta, damaging critical production centers. According to an initial government assessment, it is estimated that Vietnam suffered losses of up to $1.6 billion.
Currently, the UN and its affiliated agencies are distributing food, drinking water and hygiene products to families in the hardest-hit areas. They are also monitoring waterborne disease levels over the coming weeks and months. The UN predicts that approximately $994 million will be needed for response efforts. So far, only $252 million has been raised.
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