Typhoon Haiyan relief aid hampered by logistics problems - 13Nov2013

MANILA: Emergency aid has started to arrive in the Philippines, but getting the much needed supplies to typhoon Haiyan survivors remains a problem. There is no proper distribution system in place while many of the worst-hit areas are still not accessible. Some 21 countries have already offered humanitarian assistance and disaster relief as the United Nations is poised to make a flash appeal for the Philippines. The challenge for the Philippine government is to make sure that aid is able to reach the affected population right away. Four days after Super Typhoon Haiyan wreaked havoc in the central Philippines, many affected towns have still not been able to be reached by any aid. Thus, there is a need for the national government to have an action plan on how to best reach the affected population. According to some relief organisations, many of their counterparts from other countries have already sent in aid like medical supplies, tents, and other relief goods. However, they said that the government seems to have been overwhelmed by the scale and magnitude of the devastation, so much so that it has not been able to have a system in place to distribute the donations. The government said relief operations are being hampered by a lack of communication and inaccessibility of the worst-hit areas. Nevertheless, the government said it is doing all it can to reach the affected population. www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/typhoon-haiyan-relief-aid/884242.html