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Different Types of Aid

On 9 November, Super Typhoon Haiyan made landfall over the small Philippine islands of Leyte and Panay, causing widespread destruction. Experts and meteorologists around the world were taken aback by the tropical storm’s super-fast wind speeds, which left the city of Tacloban in ruins and caused over 2000 deaths. In the aftermath, millions of Filipinos are without food, shelter and urgently needed medical supplies, relying solely on government and international help. So what is being done to help them?

International agencies and charities – including the United Nations (UN), the World Food Programme and the Red Cross – immediately scrambled to provide emergency aid.  Emergency aid is short-term support that is provided in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. The UN and World Food Programme have dispatched over 35 tonnes of food and medical supplies to the Philippine capital of Manila, but extensive storm damage to roads, airports and ships has meant that only 20% of survivors have actually received supplies. In isolated areas, some people have resorted to looting and fighting, desperate to get the small supplies that are left.

 Along with the immediate emergency aid, governments worldwide have committed funds and people to a longer-term unilateral aid effort. The US government has promised $20 million and 1000 personnel to assist in the areas affected; Australia has delivered an aid package worth $28 million, including the use of aircraft and medical professionals; while the UK government has pledged a total of $80 million, including the use of British navy ships to help transport aid to the worst affected islands.

Even so, it is already clear that the recovery of areas like Tacloban will take many years, as the people of Leyte and Panay struggle to rebuild their lives in the wake of this devastating disaster.