Death toll jumps to 4,460 says UN as US carrier unloads food, water By: Stuart Grudgings, Reuters | Jaime Sinapit, InterAksyon November 15, 2013. TACLOBAN, Philippines -- (UPDATE - 8:25 a.m.) A US aircraft carrier started unloading food and water in the typhoon-ravaged central Philippines, while the United Nations, citing government figures, put the latest death toll at 4,460 -- almost double the last official number given. President Benigno Aquino III has faced mounting pressure to speed up the distribution of supplies and stoked debate over the extent of casualties from Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan). Earlier this week, he said estimates of 10,000 dead by local officials were overstated and caused by emotional trauma. He had said the toll was closer to 2,000 or 2,500, adding it could rise. His comments have drawn skepticism from some aid workers. As of 13 November, the government reported that 4,460 people have died, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in its daily situation report, issued out of Manila and dated Thursday. But Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II said in a radio interview Friday that, as of Thursday night, the toll had reached 2,600 “or more than that,” citing figures from the Office of Civil Defense. This was still already more than the estimate given by Aquino. Friday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils count was 2,360. Police Regional Office 8 director Chief Superintendent Elmer Soria, who had originally estimated that deaths in Eastern Visayas could hit 10,000 has been relieved of his position. Survivors have grown increasingly desperate and angry over the pace of aid distribution, which has been hindered by paralyzed local governments, widespread looting, a lack of fuel and debris-choked roads. The dead are still being buried one week after the storm and a tsunami-like wall of seawater slammed into coastal areas. Many corpses remain uncovered on roadsides or under splintered homes in the worst hit city of Tacloban. Roxas said disaster response teams have become more focused, systematic and organized compared to the first two days after the typhoon struck, when first responders such as local governments and military and police units were themselves casualties of the disaster. He admitted that government was caught off guard by the magnitude of the disaster and that there is a need to again review disaster preparedness and response resources. Foreign aid officials have called the disaster unprecedented for the Philippines. There is utter devastation. People are desperate for food, water, shelter, supplies and information about their loved ones, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters on Thursday during a visit to Latvia. We are doing everything possible to rush assistance to those who need it. Now is the time for the international community to stand with the people of the Philippines.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 01:10:55 +0000