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MANILA – October 17, 2013 – Actress and television host Anne Curtis ran with 144 children from public schools all over Metro Manila as part of Save the Children’s Race for Survival: World Marathon Challenge to call on local and national governments to prioritize children’s nutritional needs in disasters and conflicts.
The race was held at Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City, Philippines on October 17.
Curtis opened the event with a 195-meter run to officially kick off the children’s relay marathon race, a symbolic event led by children to campaign for their right to survive preventable deaths, particularly during emergency situations, Save the Children said in a press release.
The relay race event was held simultaneously in 67 countries, including Scotland, India, Canada and Kenya, as part of Save the Children’s Global Day of Action, in which over 50,000 children worldwide have participated.
This year, in partnership with the Department of Education National Capital Region, Save the Children in the Philippines joined this global campaign to highlight the issue of health and nutrition of children during emergencies.
“Children are the most vulnerable in any disaster, and food aid often does not prioritize the nutritional needs of children,” said Anna Lindenfors, Country Director for Save the Children in the Philippines. “Disasters also tend to hit the poorest communities hardest, and the loss of income and property for these families mean that children’s nutritional needs will be neglected.”
Save the Children noted that in 2013, the Philippines had already succumbed to four emergencies caused by natural disasters, most recently, the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Central Visayas, Typhoon Utor in Aurora Province; the heavy floodings in Luzon caused by the Southwest Monsoon intensified by Tropical Storm Trami; Typhoon Nari’s onslaught in Northern Luzon.
The stand-off between the Moro National Liberation Front rebels and the Philippine government troops in Zamboanga City, Mindanao also forced thousands to emergency evacuations.
In all these emergencies, unwarranted displacement has been an observable threat in children’s lives, Save the Children said. "These emergency situations have put thousands of Filipino children at a very vulnerable position where their protection, education, health and nutrition are compromised, especially when they end up in evacuation centers that are not equipped to cater to their needs," they said.
In the Philippines, public schools are the first choice of shelter for evacuees during times of emergencies. Thus, children are exposed to environments that do not have proper water and sanitation facilities that are deemed vital to keep them safe from preventable hygiene-related diseases, Save the Children said.
“When it comes to raising children’s issues, who else could be the best issue bearers than the children themselves? All these children who ran today are now learning about their nutritional needs, and they want to speak out on behalf of all children caught up in disasters and conflicts,” Lindenfors said.
“It is important that our leaders listen to what they have to say and take steps to ensure that all children receive proper nutrition regardless of their situation.”
