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Please continue to pray for these devastated people as they try to recover from this horrendous situation.
While it appears the death toll could possibly actually be considerable less than previously expected, I remind everyone the situation is still extremely fluent. We now have the Philippine government announcing the actual confirmed death toll at 2,275 souls lost. Under the catastrophic conditions, especially in the area where the typhoon took it’s direct hit, these numbers will probably remain fluent for days to come. The number quoted is what they have actually recovered at the moment of the report and we can rest assured, as rescue and recovery crews continue their work, these numbers will increase. The damaged infrastructure and bad communications links made a conclusive death toll difficult to estimate.
Relief efforts in typhoon-ravaged central Philippines picked up pace Wednesday, but delays in supplies of food, water and medical supplies sparked panic and increasingly caused desperate survivors to take matters into their own hands.
Eight people were crushed to death when a wall collapsed as they and thousands of others stormed a rice warehouse on Leyte Island, the worst-hit region by Friday’s storm, said National Food Authority spokesman Rex Estoperez. They were the first reported deaths tied to looting.
The looters in Alangalang municipality Tuesday carted away up to 100,000 sacks of rice.
The two main airports in the area of Tacloban have been able to open their runways after repairs but it appears any terminal infrastructure has been severely damaged but with the runways open supply aircraft will better be able to get in such needed items at tents, food, water and medical supplies.
In addition to the U.S. Navy ships & the British ship in route, a Norwegian ship carrying supplies has left Manila and is in-route. There is also an Australian transport plane with a medical team onboard on it’s way also.
U.S. Brig Gen. Paul Kennedy said that later Wednesday his troops would install equipment at Tacloban airport to allow planes to land at night.
“There is a huge amount that we need to do. We have not been able to get into the remote communities,” U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said in Manila, launching an appeal for $301 million to help the more than 11 million people estimated to be affected by the storm.
Meanwhile, U.S. military authorities are stating they are committing “the entire Pacific Command” to respond to this crisis.
Click here for more information and a link on ‘HOW TO HELP’ which provides information on organizations involved with trying to help:
Philippines typhoon survivors desperate for food as debris slows flow of much-needed aid
– HOW TO HELP
PLEASE PRAY !!!