AS DESPERATION GROWS, RELIEF SUPPLIES BEGIN TO REACH THE PHILIPPINES TACLOBAN, Philippines — Soldiers sat atop trucks distributing rice and water on Thursday in this typhoon-devastated city and chainsaw-wielding teams cut debris from blocked roads, small signs that a promised aid effort is beginning to pick up pace even as thousands flocked to the airport, desperate to leave. The first C-130 transport planes arrived at 3 a.m. Thursday at Tacloban airport, the first nighttime flight since the typhoon struck on Friday, suggesting air control systems are now in place for a 24-7 operation — a prerequisite for the massive relief operation needed. Food, water and medical supplies from the U.S., Malaysia and Singapore sat on pallets along the tarmac. The U.N.’s World Food Program distributed rice and other items to nearly 50,000 people in the Tacloban area Wednesday. Nearly 10 tons of high energy biscuits were also delivered to the city on Wednesday, with another 25 metric tons on the way. Military officials were among the thousands waiting outside the airport trying to get their families out. “My family has nothing to eat, and we have no place to stay,” said Sgt. William Escala. We cannot bear the stench. The kids are getting sick.” Hundreds of injured people, pregnant women, children and the elderly have poured into a makeshift medical center at the ruined airport. The run-down, single-story building with filthy floors has little medicine, virtually no facilities and very few doctors. Doctors who have been dealing with cuts, fractures and pregnancy’ complications said Wednesday they soon expect to be treating more serious problems such as pneumonia, dehydration, diarrhea and infections. The medical woes add to the daunting tasks for authorities, including dealing with looters and clearing the bottlenecks holding up thousands of tons of aid material from coming in. AS DESPERATION GROWS, RELIEF SUPPLIES BEGIN TO REACH THE PHILIPPINES TACLOBAN, Philippines — Soldiers sat atop trucks distributing rice and water on Thursday in this typhoon-devastated city and chainsaw-wielding teams cut debris from blocked roads, small signs that a promised aid effort is beginning to pick up pace even as thousands flocked to the airport, desperate to leave. The first C-130 transport planes arrived at 3 a.m. Thursday at Tacloban airport, the first nighttime flight since the typhoon struck on Friday, suggesting air control systems are now in place for a 24-7 operation — a prerequisite for the massive relief operation needed. Food, water and medical supplies from the U.S., Malaysia and Singapore sat on pallets along the tarmac. The U.N.’s World Food Program distributed rice and other items to nearly 50,000 people in the Tacloban area Wednesday. Nearly 10 tons of high energy biscuits were also delivered to the city on Wednesday, with another 25 metric tons on the way. Military officials were among the thousands waiting outside the airport trying to get their families out. “My family has nothing to eat, and we have no place to stay,” said Sgt. William Escala. We cannot bear the stench. The kids are getting sick.” Hundreds of injured people, pregnant women, children and the elderly have poured into a makeshift medical center at the ruined airport. The run-down, single-story building with filthy floors has little medicine, virtually no facilities and very few doctors. Doctors who have been dealing with cuts, fractures and pregnancy’ complications said Wednesday they soon expect to be treating more serious problems such as pneumonia, dehydration, diarrhea and infections. The medical woes add to the daunting tasks for authorities, including dealing with looters and clearing the bottlenecks holding up thousands of tons of aid material from coming in. While the cogs of what promises to be a massive international aid effort are beginning to turn, it is still not quick enough for the 600,000 people displaced, many of them homeless, hungry and thirsty, their livelihoods destroyed. northjersey/news/international/Relief_supplies_begin_to_reach_typhoon-devastated_area_of_Philippines_as_desperation_grows_.html
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:31:58 +0000
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