The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimated that there can be at least 1.7 million children suffering the wrath of the world's fourth strongest storm in 2013, Philippine storm Haiyan (Yolanda).

"With some 36 provinces reported by the government to have been hit by the typhoon-the strongest ever to have made landfall anywhere in the world-we know that a significant number of children will have been badly affected," said Tomoo Hozumi, UNICEF's representative in the Philippines.

"UNICEF's first priorities are focused on life-saving interventions-getting essential medicines, nutrition supplies, safe water and hygiene supplies to children and families. This is not the first natural disaster to strike the Philippines recently, following the earthquake in Bohol three weeks ago, so we know how vital it is to reach children quickly," Mr Hozumi said in a statement.

Mr Hozumi told local media that UNICEF had already assigned staff to provide emergency supplies to the children living in the most affected area of the Philippines, Tacloban in the Visayan Region.

These emergency supplies included 60 metric tonnes of additional supplies - medical and shelter equipment - from Copenhagen.

Staff were delegated to provide "life-saving interventions - getting essential medicines, nutrition supplies, safe water and hygiene supplies to children and families," Mr Hozumi added.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos announced that the different UN agencies were helping the Philippine government to hasten all rescue and relief operations.

"Sadly, it is likely that this [fatality] figure will rise," Amos said. She cited government estimates "that some 4.3 million people are affected, across 36 provinces, and initial assessments show that thousands of homes have been destroyed, roads are impassable and people need food, water, shelter and power," Ms Amos told Interaksyon.com, a local news Web site.

Meanwhile, The World Food Programme (WFP) had gathered $2 million worth of donations to hasten all efforts of research and assessment as to what supplies are immediately need by these children.

WFP, also, sent 40 metric tonnes of biscuits from Dubai.

These biscuits "are often provided in the early days of a crisis as they are light to transport and do not need cooking," WFP Praveen Agrawal said

"The devastation we saw in Tacloban today was shocking. People have lost their homes and livelihoods, and the damage to infrastructure is substantial."