海角大神

A roundup of global news.聽

The international effort to aid storm-struck areas in the Philippines has stepped up a gear on Thursday, after six days of being dogged by logistical bottlenecks. But the surge of activity, as relief crews and supplies finally began to stream into the affected areas, starkly highlighted the immense scale of work lying ahead.聽

Tacloban, a city of 220,000 on Leyte island that has been largely reduced to ruin by the storm, is finally receiving large-scale deliveries of food, water, and medicine thanks to the expanded availability of supply routes. The Washington Post reported聽from the city today on the first hopeful signs that relief was in sight for thousands of survivors left homeless and hungry in the typhoon鈥檚 wake.聽

But the arriving aid remains thwarted by the scale of the disaster, and visiting UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos expressed dismay at the 鈥渄ismal鈥� situation she witnessed. 鈥淚 think we are all extremely distressed that this is Day 6 and we have not managed to reach everyone,鈥� she told聽reporters in Manila after touring Tacloban on Wednesday. 鈥淭ens of thousands of people are living in the open ... exposed to rain and wind.鈥�

Today's progress offers a glint of hope that the results of the international response will soon be widely felt on the ground. The city鈥檚 airport, which had been partially incapacitated by the storm, is now accepting round-the-clock flights 鈥� though aid workers are still encountering problems in finding gas for trucks to ferry the supplies from the runway to the city. The land route from Manila to Tacloban city is now open too, bringing an uptick in humanitarian traffic, The New York Times reports:聽

The international effort is now bolstered by the US aircraft carrier George Washington, which arrived Thursday to begin helicopter operations to deliver supplies. According to a US Navy statement, the carrier and its strike group of seven ships together bring 21 helicopters to help to reach the most inaccessible areas, as well as survey the region for the best way to target aid. The Telegraph reported from Tacloban on Thursday afternoon:

This incremental progress highlights the daunting task that lies in the weeks and months ahead.

Reporting from Tacloban, the Times quotes the city mayor, Alfred S. Romualdez, as saying that food distribution has reached 101 of the city鈥檚 138 neighborhoods with the rest to be covered on Friday. A ration package included 6.5 pounds of rice and some canned goods, he said. Yet hundreds of residents still face desperate plight:

The Associated Press describes a scene of misery at the Tacloban City Astrodome, a large arena with a solid roof that has helped refugees preserve their lives but which now became a place of suffering yet to be reached by relief workers. The official death toll, which stood聽at 2,357 this morning, is expected to inch upward as relief crews begin to dig through mounds of rubble 鈥� work that has yet to begin in earnest 鈥� and as tallies arrive from other regions. And outside of Tacloban and its vicinity, many isolated areas are still awaiting help.

鈥淲hat we are doing is a little bit late,鈥� Mayor Romualdez told聽the Times, speaking as the first organized mass burial took place on the city鈥檚 outskirts. 鈥淚 appreciate the boats coming in, the planes coming in,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut what we need are foot soldiers, times 10 of what you see now.鈥�

As the relief and recovery effort gathers momentum, AP reminds those wanting to help that 鈥渕oney, not stuff鈥� is the best way to make an impact.聽

How you can donate

As The Philippines begins the process of healing and rebuilding after the devastating Typhoon Haiyan, aid groups are moving quickly to offer everything from safe drinking water to medical care. Here are some of the organizations that are offering help. You can click on the highlighted text for information on how to donate.

1. The聽International Committee of the Red Cross聽and the聽Philippine Red Cross聽are accepting聽donations聽and coordinating disaster relief on location. Follow the Philippine Red Cross on Facebook聽and聽Twitter聽for updates. 聽

2.聽World Food Program, which delivers emergency food aid, is accepting聽donations online聽and through聽PayPal.

3. The US Fund for UNICEF聽is accepting donations聽to provide children affected by the typhoon with drinkable water, hygiene supplies, food and shelter.

4.聽Catholic Relief Services聽aims to provide 100,000 families with shelter, water, sanitation, and essential living supplies. It is accepting聽donations online.

5.聽American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee聽is accepting聽online donations聽for addressing survivors鈥� immediate needs.

6.聽World Vision聽is accepting聽online donations聽to help 400,000 people meet the most urgent needs of food, clean water, and emergency shelter.

7.聽M茅decins Sans Fronti猫res (Doctors Without Borders)聽is rushing personnel and supplies to provide medical care in the affected areas. It is accepting聽donations online.

8.聽The Salvation Army聽is on the ground meeting the immediate needs of survivors, providing food, water, and shelter. It is聽accepting donations聽online. 聽

9.聽Caritas Manila, a Catholic charity, is accepting聽donations online聽and through聽wire transfers.

10. International Rescue Committee聽has mobilized an emergency response team to provide clean water and hygiene and sanitation supplies to survivors. It is accepting donations online.聽

11. Global Giving, a charity fundraising website, is accepting donations to its聽Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund聽to support immediate relief and longer-term recovery.