29 November 2013 – Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega attended UNICEF’s launching of its fundraising drive in Southern California on November 19 to support disaster relief and recovery efforts for children victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

The event held at the Smithhouse Tap & Grill adjacent to the UNICEF office in Los Angeles, was supported by the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA), National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA), Taiwanese American Lawyers Association (TALA), Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA), Representative Brad Sherman, Representative Adam Schiff, California (CA) State Controller John Chiang, CA State Senator Ted Lieu, CA Assemblymember Mike Gatto, Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz and Filipino-American community leaders, including youth leader Alex De Ocampo.

In her remarks, UNICEF Regional Director for Southern California Anne Kelly estimates that 2.8 million pre-school and school-aged children may have been displaced by Typhoon Yolanda.  In the hardest hit areas, more than 3,000 schools and 2,400 day care centers may have been affected.

Consul General De La Vega thanked UNICEF and the attendees for their overwhelming support and solidarity with the victims and the Filipino nation.  The Consul General conveyed her interest to work closely with UNICEF Southern California on its intended programs in Tacloban, Leyte. END