GOVERNMENT FIGURES ESTIMATE 3 MILLION PEOPLE DISPLACED IN THE AFTERMATH OF TYPHOON HAIYAN
(Manila, 16 November 2013): An estimated 3 million people in the path of Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) are now displaced across the typhoon affected regions, according to the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Centre. They also report 244,000 homes are totally destroyed.
The extent of the damage caused by the super typhoon, which swept across the Visayas on 8 November, is becoming more apparent a week after it left the Philippines Area of Responsibility. As assessment teams are accessing larger geographical areas, the level of damage is becoming more visible.
Telecommunications are gradually being restored and people can now contact loved ones living across the Philippines and the world. On the ground, responders are focusing on the immediate life-saving needs of food and water as operations to deliver, speed up.
“There are still logistical difficulties to overcome; we already have roads cleared and managed to access the fuel required. However, the numbers of trucks to load and distribute aid are barely enough and we are extremely concerned with the most vulnerable people including people with poor mobile capacity,” said Ms. Luiza Carvalho, Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator.
The full extent of the damage inflicted by the typhoon is yet to be realized. As each day passes more data and information become available. “What is certain is that the people affected by Typhoon Haiyan will continue to need support for a long time to come,” she said.
via UNOCHA