Beckham hails public response for Yolanda survivors

MANILA, Philippines - UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham has made an emotional journey to the Philippines on Thursday to meet children saved from the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda, almost 100 days after the super storm landed.

Beckham helped launch UNICEF’s emergency appeal when the typhoon hit in November last year, and visited the hard hit areas of Tacloban City and Leyte.

Thousands died in the disaster, and more than 1.7 million children were displaced, missed school and were put at risk of getting sick and exploited.

During the last two days, Beckham saw UNICEF’s vital emergency work for children, including visiting a child friendly space at one of Tacloban’s major evacuation points and a health center to understand the importance of vaccination and medical care for children when disaster strikes.

He also met children and families whose homes were completely wiped out by the typhoon.

“As a father, it was deeply moving to meet children as young as two who were left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing when sea and storm water swept through their villages during the typhoon,” said the former footballer, who has been a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador since 2005.

“Some children I spoke to had lost parents or brothers and sisters in incredibly frightening circumstances. It was devastating to hear about.”

Beckham visited the Santo Niño School in Tanauan, Leyte, where he took part in classes helping distribute exercise books to children and played a game of football amongst the ruins of the original school.

Thanks to UNICEF and its partners, some 420,000 children from the worst hit areas are now back in repaired, makeshift and tent schools, and using learning materials from school-in-a-box, early childhood and recreational kits.

UNICEF is working with the Philippine government, local partners and communities to help them be even better prepared for future crises.