Over 6 million children affected by floods in Southeast Asia

The catastrophic floods triggered by Typhoon Yagi, which hit Southeast Asia in September 2024, have affected over 6 million children. The most tragic impacts have been recorded in Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, where intense rainfall and landslides have destroyed homes and key infrastructure, including schools and healthcare centers. The residents of these countries, especially children, are in an extremely difficult situation, struggling with a lack of access to clean water, sanitation, education, and healthcare.

Impacts of Typhoon Yagi in individual countries

Vietnam
On September 7, Typhoon Yagi struck 14 provinces in Vietnam, affecting 26 million people, including 7.5 million children. The floods and landslides caused by the typhoon have restricted access to clean water and sanitation for 3 million people, increasing the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks. Additionally, over 550 healthcare centers and 850 schools have been destroyed, depriving 2 million children of access to education.

Myanmar
Myanmar is grappling not only with the disaster caused by Typhoon Yagi but also with an ongoing internal conflict that has been raging since 2021, following the military junta’s takeover. Brutal repression of pro-democracy protests escalated into a civil war involving ethnic armed groups and opposition forces. The effects of the weather events have only worsened this crisis, with over 170 deaths recorded, and more than 320,000 people forced to flee their homes. Infrastructure damage, including to roads, telecommunications, and energy networks, has severely hampered the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.

Thailand and Laos
In northern Thailand and eight provinces in Laos, the typhoon caused massive infrastructure damage, including to numerous schools. Around 64,000 children in Thailand and 60,000 in Laos have been deprived of access to education and basic services. Teachers in some regions have had to transition to remote learning or deliver educational materials directly to students’ homes.

Health and development impacts on children

Children in East Asia and the Pacific region are increasingly exposed to numerous climate and environmental risks. They are now six times more likely to experience such threats compared to previous generations. The increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters driven by climate change weaken their adaptive capacities, exacerbate social inequalities, and limit development opportunities, preventing them from reaching their full potential.

Lack of access to clean drinking water leads to the rapid spread of infectious diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and skin infections. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and medical services are struggling to keep up with the demand for aid. UNICEF warns that without urgent action, the number of cases may rise, with catastrophic consequences, especially for children.

The high risk of waterborne diseases is not the only challenge. Many children also suffer from a lack of access to education and psychological care, which is crucial for emotional recovery after traumatic events. In many countries, such as Myanmar and the Philippines, schools have been turned into temporary shelters for refugees. As a result, millions of children are unable to continue their education. Lack of access to schools means not only a missed opportunity for learning but also for school feeding programs, which often provided children with their only meal of the day.