Initial estimates by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) put the number of people affected by the hurricane at 4.6 million across the impoverished region, including 1.8 million children. It said 250 municipal brigades had been dispatched to collect fallen trees and debris from the hurricane. The giant storm, which gradually eased as it moved inland, devastated much of the area spared by Hurricane “Eta” a couple of weeks ago. Much of the country’s industrial heartland in the northern Sula Valley was underwater, as it was two weeks ago after Hurricane Eta. Unicef made an urgent appeal for more than $42 million to cover the humanitarian needs of the region.

Source: Manila Times November 20, 2020 16:30 UTC