Typhoon Haiyan: Aid in numbers

In pictures: Aid ramps up 
BBC

12 November 2013 Last updated at 18:57 GMT

Mapping Typhoon Haiyan

Millions of people have been affected by the typhoon which swept through the Philippines with winds gusting up to 270km/h. Parts of the low-lying islands were completely flattened and many hundreds of thousands of people are now homeless.

The map shows some of the areas worst affected by the storm, like the islands of Leyte and Cebu lying closest to the typhoon's path.

Relief Web has produced estimates of the numbers of people affected in each province. It says Tacloban City in Leyte province has been devastated, with most houses destroyed. In total, 670,000 people are said to have been displaced - about 55% of them are living in evacuation centres. 

But with roads blocked and poor communications, a complete picture of how many people have been affected may not emerge for some time.

Areas most affected by the storm surge The strong winds whipped up by Typhoon Haiyan also contributed to a storm surge, which sent a wall of water crashing through some low-lying areas. The storm surge reached its height at Tacloban.

Although official calculations by the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) put the height of the storm surge in Tacloban at 2.3m, local conditions will have meant the actual level was far higher.

The city is located at the head of a bay which faced directly towards the oncoming typhoon and the arrival of the storm surge coincided with a high tide forcing the water levels up to about 5m.

The storm surge also affected other islands on the typhoon path, though the levels recorded were not as high. 

Tacloban devastation The combined force of the typhoon and storm surge devastated Tacloban, a city of with a population of more than 220,000. Many buildings have been flattened and piles of debris are now hampering relief efforts.

Read more on Tacloban: City at the centre of the storm.

Typhoon Haiyan: Before and after the storm

Coastal towns across the central Philippines have been left devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, which brought gusts of wind of up to 275 km/h (170 mph) and waves as high as 15m (45ft).

Satellite and aerial images of before and after the storm show the extent of the damage in the country's low-lying areas, such as Tacloban on Leyte Island and Guiuan, in Eastern Samar province.

Satellite image slideshow

Satellite images from February 2012 show the bustling port of Tacloban and communities near the sea.
Tacloban and surrounding area in detail

Four days after Typhoon Haiyan hit, survivors in the devastated city of Tacloban are still desperate for help. The city's airport - a key regional transport hub - has been severely damaged, meaning the arrival of planes carrying aid had been delayed.

The city's airport buildings were smashed, trees uprooted and vehicles overturned by vicious winds. However, a limited number of planes are now landing, bringing much-needed supplies.

In Tacloban itself, the largest city on Leyte Island, thousands of people are thought to have died. Survivors have been sifting through the wreckage of their homes in a desperate hunt for provisions and belongings.

Anibong town near Tacloban city

Further along the coast from Tacloban, cargo ships ploughed into the coastline at Anibong town. The UN says people are now desperate for help.

Guiuan town and coastal areas

Guiuan was among the first areas hit by the typhoon. Many of the area's buildings have been reduced to piles of debris and locals say much of the town has been destroyed. Some aid has begun to arrive, with residents of Victory Island, off Guiuan, receiving food supplies from a military helicopter.

However, large-scale assistance has yet to reach Guiuan, a town of 40,000 people. Residents have been forced to scavenge for the food, water and medicine they need.

However, large-scale assistance has yet to reach Guiuan, a town of 40,000 people. Residents have been forced to scavenge for the food, water and medicine they need.

 

14 November 2013 Last updated at 18:50 GMT 

Typhoon Haiyan: Aid in numbers

International governments and aid agencies are stepping up efforts to deliver urgent supplies to millions of people in the Philippines, amid criticism of the operation so far.

More than 11 million people have been affected, around 10% of the population, the UN reports.

In some towns and cities, the UN says that as much as 90% of housing has been destroyed. 

The UN has issued an appeal for $300m (£190m), and has released $25 million in emergency funds to provide immediate assistance.

As of Thursday the confirmed death toll stands at 2,357, with 3,853 injured, according to the Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. (NDRRMC).

Slow process

Damage to roads and infrastructure has hindered the distribution of aid, although US, Singaporean and Japanese military C-130 transport aircraft are now landing at Tacloban, one of the worst affected towns.

Two senior UN officials visited Tacloban on Wednesday and identified an urgent need for transport, emergency shelter material, hygiene kits, body bags and the establishment of family tracing service.

A lack of trucks and fuel shortage is severely hampering the response, the UN says, with people from remote areas forced to walk several kilometres to reach aid distribution points.

In Tacloban, bodies remain unrecovered on the streets, the UN reports. 

There have also been accounts of people digging up underground pipes in a desperate search for drinking water.

Around 25 humanitarian organisations are operating in and around Tacloban, including international response teams, NGOs, the Red Cross and other UN teams.

French-Belgian and Israeli field hospitals have been set up.

The Philippines Red Cross is delivering basic food aid, which includes rice, canned goods, sugar, salt, cooking oil.

Water and sewerage systems have been destroyed in many areas, and the UN has identified an urgent need for mobile water treatment units, generators and emergency latrines.

Although all regional airports have now reopened, Tacloban remains closed to civilian flights, the NDRRMC reports.

The Philippines Government has established additional aid distribution points in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, and Ormoc City, Leyte.

International effort The US aircraft carrier George Washington and its escort ships have arrived off the Philippines coast.

Continue reading the main story

 

Aid at a glance

Asian Development Bank: $500m emergency loans and $23m in grants

Australia: A$30m ($28m) package, including medical staff, shelter materials, water containers and hygiene kits

China: 10m yuan ($1.6m; £1m) in relief goods plus $200,000 (£120,000) from government and Red Cross

European Commission: $11m

Indonesia: Logistical aid including aircraft, food, generators and medicine

Israel: 148-person team, including search, rescue and medical services; field hospital with 100 tonnes of aid

Japan: $10m, including tents and blankets. Pledged up to 1,000 soldiers, 25-person medical team already sent

South Korea: $5m plus a 40-strong medical team

UAE: $10m in humanitarian aid

US: $20m in humanitarian aid, 90 marines, aircraft carrier plus logistics support

UK: $16m (£10m) package including emergency shelter, water and household items

Donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC)

• In pictures: Aid ramps up
• Typhoon Haiyan: Aid in numbers
• Q&A: Haiyan disaster management

The carrier's fleet of helicopters is desperately needed to expand search and rescue operations, and deliver aid to inaccessible areas.

A hospital ship, USNS Mercy, has also been activated and could reach the Philippines in December. 

Britain has despatched the helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious from the Gulf. 

It is expected to arrive in 10 days time and will relieve the destroyer HMS Daring, itself en route and due to arrive on Saturday. 

The British government has also sent 8,836 shelter kits from Dubai on a chartered aircraft, which landed at the main aid distribution hub in Cebu on Wednesday. 

Each kit consists of plastic sheeting and rope to provide temporary shelter for a family of five.

Several more UK-funded aid flights are expected to arrive in the next few days. 

Japan is preparing to send up to 1,000 troops as well as naval vessels and aircraft.

Double blow When the typhoon struck, the region was still reeling from the Bohol earthquake in October. More than 17,300 people were already receiving food aid from the World Food Programme as a result of the quake. 

British charity ShelterBox, which provides emergency shelter and non-food supplies for families affected by disasters, was already in the region working with affected families.

ShelterBox provides families with a plastic box which contains a variety of items.

What's in a ShelterBox box?

ShelterBox volunteer Mark Dyer weathered the storm on Bohol Island.

"When we knew the typhoon was coming, we advised people to lower the tents before the storm. So we are now going back to help people put these tents back up, so they will at least have places to live for the next few weeks."

As well as a tent - designed to withstand extremes of wind, rain and cold - ShelterBox boxes include water purification equipment, blankets, cooking implements and solar-powered lighting and activity packs for children.